It may feel obvious that taking good care of the trees in your yard would be good for the environment. After all, trees ARE a vital part of the environment! But taking good care of your trees can have a surprising environmental impact not just in terms of flourishing trees, but in terms of conserving energy.
Trees are a vital part of our eco-system. From providing us with oxygen, to proving homes for insects, birds, pollinators and more, to absorbing extra water that could otherwise create a flooding hazard to providing us literal peace of mind just by being in their presence, trees are doing a ton to make our lives happier, healthier and more comfortable. But did you know they can reduce your energy use, helping the environment (and saving you money in the process)?
Shade in the Summer and Sun in the Winter
The single greatest impact that trees can have on your home’s energy usage is related to reduced summer energy costs. Planting trees in proper, strategic locations, and then maintaining them well, though proper pruning and regular care, can reduce your home’s summer energy bill by up to 25%. Leafy trees that shade your walls and roof can significantly reduce the amount of sunshine that reaches your home and can therefore reduce the amount that you need to run your air conditioner to keep your home at an ideal temperature. Deciduous trees which lose their leaves in winter are additionally helpful because they lose their leaves at just the right point of the year so that you can also maximize the amount of winter sunshine that falls on your house, allowing you to take full advantage of whatever amount of warming winter light you might be lucky enough to get on your home.
Windbreak
Additionally, planting trees around your home can reduce the impact that the wind has on your home’s exterior, thus reducing heat loss due to drafts, and helping to minimize your home heating bills in the winter. In winter, your home can be additionally helped by the sturdy bulk of evergreen trees, which can break up intense wind gusts and offer your home some piney protection.
Community Cooling
Having a good number of healthy, thriving trees throughout your community can maximize the impact that trees can have on cooling the environment. Although it’s great to make sure your own yard is full of thriving trees, advocating for trees throughout your neighborhood can increase the impact even more. Replacing concrete and asphalt areas with trees makes the entire community cooler in the summer – concrete and asphalt retain heat, even after the sun goes down, and slowly release it through the night, keeping urban and suburban nighttime temperatures higher than they need to be. Trees don’t retain the heat from the daytime summer sun very much, so replacing a block of pavement with a block of greenery can keep the whole area cooler.
Other Natural Benefits
Of course, trees and green spaces benefit us in so many ways beyond reducing our home energy bills. Trees convert carbon dioxide into the oxygen we need to breathe, they provide habitats for all sorts of creatures and wildlife, and it’s been proven that spending time in green, natural places reduces stress and increases happiness. We owe so much to our trees!
How to Help Your Trees Continue to Help You and Your Community
It isn’t enough just to plant trees, though – they have to be cared for and maintained. This means regular pruning and trimming, watering and fertilizing when necessary, proper mulching, and occasional checkups by an expert tree service. You can help our green, leafy companions to continue to help you by making sure they get this regular care that they need and by calling in the experts – we’re here to help.
