Energy conservation and environmental quality are among the most important issues of our time. Trees, shrubs, vines and structures that are properly placed in the landscape can modify the climate around your home and reduce both heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
Solar heat absorbed through windows and roofs can increase your air-conditioner use. Incorporating shading concepts into your landscape design can reduce this solar heat gain, reducing your cooling costs. If you have an air conditioner, shading the unit can increase its efficiency as much as
10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
In our hot, humid climate, trees can reduce summer temperatures significantly. To block solar heat in the summer but let much of it in during the winter, use deciduous trees. Large trees shading the roof of a house from the afternoon sun can reduce temperatures inside the home by as much as 8 to
10 degrees Fahrenheit. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter, allowing the sun to warm the house.
A 6- to 8-foot-tall deciduous tree planted near your home will begin shading windows the first year. Depending on the species and the home, the tree will shade the roof in five to 10 years. Appropriate placement in proximity to your house will depend on the size of the tree canopy at maturity. For example, live oaks -- the branches of which will stretch 60 to
100 feet in width at maturity -- should be planted a minimum of 30 feet from a building.
Proper use of shrubs, vines and man-made structures can also modify the climate around your home to reduce heat gains in summer and heat losses in winter. During winter, dense, low-lying trees and shrubbery on the north and northeast sides of your home can help protect your home against wind chill.
Shrubs planted close to the house will fill in rapidly and begin shading walls and windows within a few years. Avoid allowing dense foliage to grow immediately next to a home where dampness or humidity may create problems, however. Plant so there will be at least 1 foot of space between full-grown plants and your home's wall.
Vines can shade walls during their first growing season. Build a trellis for climbing vines to shade a patio area. A lattice or trellis with climbing vines shades the home's perimeter while admitting cooling breezes to the shaded area.
Faced with rising energy costs, homeowners look for ways to conserve energy in the home. Plants can protect your home from winter winds and shade it from summer sun. A strategically planned landscape can make a significant difference in the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable home.
* Charla Anthony is the horticulture program assistant at Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Brazos County, 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas 77803. Her e-mail address is charla.anthony@theeagle.com.
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