Keeping cool inside and out

So, you checked your home cooling system and you have your programmable thermostat set to your liking. Everything inside is in order. Now, what about your yard? The National Arbor Day Foundation website explains that, “Trees can add value to your home, help cool your home and neighborhood, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs, and provide food for wildlife.” (arborday.org) You don’t have to be a conservationist to appreciate them. Poets like Joyce Kilmer immortalize their beauty, “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree…”, and children, of all ages, just like to climb them.

Trees have multiple benefits to the homeowner. Properly placed, they can reduce heating and cooling costs by an estimated 25-30% in summer and winter. Improperly placed trees can block shading in summer and provide shading in winter, both preventing the desired benefits. What to plant for your region of Minnesota is just as important as where to plant. For more information about energy saving landscapes and their care, go to The University of Minnesota Extension Service here to read their Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series. For more information about tree planting, care, and long-term maintenance for residential and wood lots, go here.

CREDIT: www.Mnnature.org