Planting shade trees is not only great for the environment and your home’s curb appeal, but they will lower your energy bill and help your air conditioning unit last longer.
Creating shade around your home and air conditioning unit is one of the best things you can do for your HVAC unit. Planting shade trees around your home will help keep your home nice and cool during the hottest of summer days. At night, when it cools outside, the shade provided by the trees will prevent the sun from shining into your home, helping your home stay naturally cooler, longer – meaning your AC unit will run less. Not only is this good for your energy bill, but the less your AC unit runs the longer it lasts.
In most cases, the outside unit is located in the direct sunlight from noon to 4:00 p.m. This is dangerous for your HVAC unit as it can cause the unit to overheat. Planting shade trees not only near your home but close to your HVAC unit will create a natural shade over both your home and HVAC unit. The shade from the trees will help prevent your HVAC unit from getting too hot during the summer and overheating.
Deciding what trees will provide the most benefits for your home all year round will require some research and consulting. Some trees won’t survive in very humid climates while others will continue to block the sun during the winter. These are just a few things to consider when deciding to plant shade trees around your home. Make sure you do your research and even seek out advice from a professional landscaper to find the best shade trees for your home.
When planting trees, you want to make sure they’re far enough away from your home so as the tree grows, the roots won’t ruin your home’s foundation or plumbing. Consult a landscaper if necessary, but a good rule of thumb is to keep the trees 10 to 20 feet away from your home.
