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Dina Freedman ReportingIf you've taken a look at your power bill recently, you're probably wondering if there are ways you can save some cash. Extra trees around your home might be the way to do just that.
You definitely don't want to plant trees while it's hot outside, that would just stress them out; but if you're thinking about how to save for next year, then planting trees this coming fall might be the plan for you.
It's been a hot summer and we've been cooling off however we can. It seems like common sense though, the more your home is shaded, the more money you save.
Meridith Perkins, Urban Forestry Coordinator: "Mature trees on both east and west sides can reduce by 15 to 30 percent on your cooling costs."
It's recommended that trees be planted at least fifteen feet away from the home and plant strong, deciduous trees like Maples or Oaks, the ones with big leaves to help shade in the summer but will help you maximize the sun in the winter.
Meridith Perkins, Urban Forestry Coordinator: "When you're planting trees close to your home, you want to make sure those trees are of sound wood. You don't want the really fast growing, weak-wooded trees. You want to make sure you get hearty, long lasting, structurally sound trees."
In new communities, like Daybreak Utah, they are already working on landscaping to get the best return on their energy investments.
If you can't plant trees around your property, you can still save some money by just shading your AC unit.
Meridith Perkins, Urban Forestry Coordinator: "If it's sitting out in full sun, it needs to work harder to change that hot air into cooler air. If the cooler the air is around it, the more efficient that air conditioning unit is going to be. The tree, besides just the shading effect, the tree also transpires, that transpiration cools the air around the tree and that makes it easier for your air conditioning unit."
It's not just the east and west side of the house either to think about. By planting evergreen trees on the north side, you can prevent some of the prevailing cold winds during the winter to save even more money.
A house with just three shade trees can save between 100 and 250 dollars a year. If you're thinking about planting some trees this fall to help cut energy costs, check in with your local nursery or extension office.
