| Placing trees for energy savings |
By: MARY SCHIER, Guest Columnist
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Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:20 pm
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Anyone who has driven the country roads around Northfield can see the value of careful tree placement. Farmers frequently plant rows of evergreens and deciduous trees, usually around two sides of their homes about 200 feet from the house. These shelterbelts slow wind, reduce snow drifting, block dust kicked up in nearby fields, and create a microclimate around the farmstead — a place that’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Those of us who live in town can also practice careful tree placement to reduce energy costs, add beauty to our yards and create habitat for wildlife. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, strategically placed shade trees can reduce air-conditioning bills by 25 percent. In addition, a well-placed windbreak might lop another 10 to 20 percent off fuel bills.
When placing trees, try to take advantage of sunlight in the winter while shading the house from the sun in summer. In our climate, the sun’s position in the sky changes dramatically over the seasons. Just watch how the sunlight moves around your house over the year. For energy conservation, experts recommend planting deciduous trees to shade east and west windows. Tall trees with broad canopies and dense foliage such as Kentucky coffeetree (great, but slow growing) or hackberry work well for energy conservation. Other great choices would be ironwood or one of the new disease-resistant elms, such as Triumph elm or Princeton elm.
One surprising note: The sun is so high in the sky in summer that trees on the south side of the house don’t do much to keep the house cool so leave that area open for winter sun. Planting a shade tree near the outside air-conditioning unit also saves energy.
Planting evergreens on the west or north side of your house helps block winds and snow. And, if you plant shrubs and perennials in a garden bed with the evergreens, you’ll have created a small bird sanctuary in your yard, too.
In addition to trees for specific purposes, tall trees that provide a canopy over houses and yards provide everything from reduced air pollution to a more neighborly environment — all the more reason to plant a tree this Arbor Day.
To find out more about tree placement, download the booklet “Save Energy With Trees” from the Minnesota Department of Commerce www.state.mn.us/mn/externalDocs/Commerce/Energy_Saving_Landscapes_110802040030_Landscaping.pdf or the University of Minnesota’s list of recommended trees at www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD6574.html.
— Mary Schier is a member of the Tree Advisory Board of the Northfield Environmental Quality Commission.
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