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Plant Trees Now for Years of Energy Savings  

Energy Efficiency

Although it takes a bit of advanced planning before planting and a few years for growth, trees can help you save energy on your home’s heating and cooling, according to many experts. Here’s what they say:

  • Better Homes and Gardens magazine interviewed Dan Lambe of the Arbor Day Foundation, who says that mature trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air-conditioning needs by 30 percent and heating costs by 20 percent. One young tree on the west side of a home can cut energy costs within 3 percent within 5 years and nearly 12 percent within 15 years.
  • In another article, the Arbor Day Foundation says that through evapotranspiration (absorbing water through their roots and evaporating it through leaf pores) trees can reduce temperatures by 2 to 9 degrees. Home walls shaded by trees may be 9 to 36 degrees cooler than unshaded surfaces.
  • An ISU Forestry Extension publication indicates that you can save summer energy needs as much as 50 percent. In addition, planting windbreaks can help you save on winter heating costs by 10 percent (urban areas) and 40 percent for farmsteads. It’s estimated that planting as few as three trees can save between $100 and $250 in annual energy costs. For tips on how to plan and plant for maximum energy savings, refer to the publication Landscaping for Energy Conservation (pdf). You’ll find tips such as planting on the west and east side of your home (not on the south), shading paved areas and air conditioners, how far to plant from buildings, foundation plantings to create dead air space, and more.
  • According to the U.S. Forest Service, 50 million shade trees planted in strategic, energy-saving locations could eliminate the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.
Other value added by trees
  • Davey Tree Institute provides a tree calculator to show how a tree in your yard can provide (in dollar value) benefits, including increasing property value, handling storm water, improving air quality, reducing atmospheric carbon, as well as saving energy. Input your zip code and a tree on your property (species and size) to find out how much you are gaining from the tree.
  • Other valuable contributions of trees, according to the Arbor Foundation are that trees add beauty, provide a calming effect and attract birds and other wildlife.
More details
  • How to select a tree (pdf), from Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University
  • A graphic demonstrating proper tree planting from Trees Forever
  • Save Energy with Trees (pdf), from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Center, gives tips on choosing “solar friendly” trees—those that have a broad crown of dense leaves in the summer and lose their leaves in the winter, along with diagrams for individual tree placement as well as windbreak placement.

And don’t forget safety

  • Before digging a hole, contact Iowa One Call (at least 48 hours in advance) at 800-292-8989. This is a free service and will ensure that you don’t cut an electrical, phone, or gas line when you dig.
  • Be aware of power lines before planting. Don’t plant a tree that could grow to 25 feet or more near a power line. Tall growing trees should be planted at least 20 feet from power lines and at least 50 feet to avoid pruning as the tree grows. A mature height of 15 feet is recommended for trees planted near power lines.