Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 03/14/1996

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Minnesota Arbor Month Fact Sheet #4: PLANTING FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION IN THE NORTH Trees work for energy conservation ir/in/ns; ways. Strategically lobated shade trees can help redude'air conditioning costs. Trees pl'anted as windbreaks reduce winter heating bills. Trees give' off oxygen and consume carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by such things as the burning of" ' fossil fuels. Energy conservation saves people money and is good for the environment, too. '.. ;'..'' '~'~:::"30" " ' ~' " Shade to the West'and East " Shade West Windows. Highest priority should be given to planting deciduous trees due west of west-facing windows. This will reduce energy use in air-conditioned structures, increase comfort in non-ak-conditioned structures, and reduce peak .' electrical consumption.. : . :. Shade East Windows. East-facing windows receiv, e the same solar gain in the morning that the west-oriented ones receive in the afternoon. While peak daily temperatures and peak air conditioning demand give priority to afternoon shade on the west, shading the east is nearly as important. ',':;: ShaO¢ Air.Conditigner~. Tall to medium height. shade trees should be planted to the south, southeast, or southwest of the air cbndifioner to maximize shade on the equipment from mid-morning through evening. Keep shrubs and branches away from the air conditioner to permit necessary air flow. Shade Paved Areas. Plant trees to directly shade paved areas (driveways, parking lots, patios). · · .:. .. ,'~ .. :7:. ~:.' : ' Encourage Summer_Breezes~ To reduce energy. use, buildings should be cooled with natural v~nfilation whenever possible. In areas where '. summer breezes come from the south t6 southeast, dense vegetation should be avoided near windows that can be opened to take advantag,e of these. " breezes. Prune branches high on trees 'planted to the southeast of structures and :/void dense shrubs t6 the south and southeast of openahle windows. Allow Winter Solar Gain ,Avoid Planl;i~ g Trees to the. South: A home in the upper midwest needs at least I0 times more energy for heating than for cooling, even in a fully "~ air. conditioned home. A significant amount of winter heat is gained from the southerly sun shining through windows. Trees. (even deciduous ones) planted due south of a home will negatively shade it in the winter (when the stm is low) but will not shade. it in the summer when the sun is more directly overhead at midday. To avoid winter shade, trees planted due south of a structure should be no ctoger than a distance of about two times the mature height of the tm.e,. · Plant trees to the west and east of the house. Tree irrmroveflv located south of house.