Plant a Tree and Save on Your Electricity Bill
By eliza, November 1, 2010, Energy Efficiency
Providing shade for your household can lower your Texas electricity bill. My mother’s front side of the house faces west, where the sun sets. She has a large window in the front of the house that is unbearable to stand by as the sun is setting because the area gets so hot. If she has guests over or anyone is in that part of the house, the A/C is cranked up to make the guest feel more comfortable. Several years ago she realized that if she planted a tree to provide shade in the front portion of the house, the area would not be so warm during then afternoon.
I will provide a very simple summary of the steps but research this topic more thoroughly before you attempt it. First, be sure that you buy a tree that suits the area you want to plant it in. Once you have the plant, remove it from the plastic planter and place the root area in the center of the hole that has been dug. Sometimes the tree will come with a stake attached but at this point you can remove it. Lastly, fill the hole with soil but do not cover the top portion of the roots in order for the tree to successfully grow. It is important to avoid over watering the tree because it could actually have negative effects on the tree’s growth.
The ideal locations to plant trees is wherever your home needs shading. Windows that face East and West and receive a lot of sunlight tend to be warmer than other parts of the house thus required more air conditioning to keep it cool. By keeping these areas shaded with trees, it’ll keep the area cooler, thus helping decrease energy usage.
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