MONEY DOES GROW ON TREES

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In Columbus, Ohio, for example, the midday summer sun is 73 degrees high in the sky. From the southwestern to the southeastern corner of a Columbus home, trees should be planted along a line that veers off at a 73-degree angle of due south. The fan-shaped area facing south in between those "lines" should be free of large shade-producing trees. This will ensure maximum warmth during the winter while blocking the hottest summer sun. If you do need to plant trees or shrubs to the south and don't want to block the sun, knowing the winter sun's position tells you how far from the house you need to plant.

In the hottest parts of the country, such as southern Florida, it's ideal to have high-canopied palm trees near the south of your house. These will let in some winter sun while providing year-round protection from the hot midday sun. Planting deciduous vines on "eyebrow" trellises attached to the underside of southern and western eaves can block the sun during the hottest parts of the year without eliminating winter warmth. In hot, humid areas, plant placement and species choice are critical when planting close to your home — otherwise you could create excessive moisture.

One quick, cooling energy saver that even the laziest gardener shouldn't overlook is shading the air conditioner. Shading can immediately increase its performance by 10%.

Sculpting the Wind

Wind has a powerful cooling effect. Heat loss from a building's surface increases proportionally to the square of the wind's speed (i.e., if wind speed doubles, heat loss quadruples), as anyone who has experienced the windchill effect knows.

A solid barrier isn't the most effective wind block; a penetrable windbreak will actually create a larger wind shadow. A windbreak — which should be planted perpendicular to the prevailing winds — can reduce wind speed for a distance up to 15 times the height of the barrier. The maximum protection downwind from a barrier is found within 5 times the height of the barrier. A 25-foot-high windbreak, for example, should be placed within 125 feet of your house.

Dense, coniferous evergreens make good windbreaks for cold climates because they branch to the ground and provide effective wind control year-round. A spruce wind barrier can cut wind velocity by 80%, slowing a 12-mph wind to 3 mph. Taking into account the windchill effect on a 20°F day, that means the difference between what feels like below-zero temperatures and an almost imperceptible cooling breeze (similar to the breeze generated by walking).

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