Showing results 1 - 22 of 22
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A professional tree survey should be made prior to construction to assess the health and usefulness of each tree surrounding the future home and to determine which trees on a building site should be preserved.
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Example of an earth-sheltered home in hot climate Tempe, AZ uses the cooling properties of the ground to decrease cooling costs
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In hot climate zones, shade building surface with vegetation for passive cooling.
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In the middle of summer, the sun shines most directly on the east and west sides of a house, while in winter it shines mostly from the south.
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Keep mulch away from trunk of the tree to allow air circulation at the root collar.
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Landscape trees and shrubs to funnel cooling breeze towards a home in hot climate zones.
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Large deciduous trees provide heat-blocking shade to the walls and windows of this house.
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Leave the soil level around an existing trunk as is (left); do not increase soil height (center) or remove soil in the root zone (right).
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Right - Dense vines growing on a covered trellis along the west side of this home provide effective shade for the wall and windows and create a shaded, protected walkway and outdoor seating area.
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Right - This builder preserved the trees around this new urban-infill home, providing excellent shading in the summer.
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Right – The canopy of this tree is high enough to allow views out the windows of this home while providing excellent shade to walls, windows, and roof.
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Right – This shrub has been pruned to allow views out the windows of this home while providing shade to walls, windows, and roof.
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Right – This tree shades walls, windows, roofs, and grounds for two adjacent homes.
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The thermal image on the left and normal picture on the right show the cooling effect of a shade tree on walls and ground surfaces as compared to unshaded areas of the property (darker colors are cooler while lighter colors are hotter in the left image).
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The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can be a valuable reference in determining appropriate landscape plants for your climate .
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There are many landscaping strategies that can be used to reduce the cooling load and energy consumption of a home and its neighborhood.
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These trees were planted between the sidewalk and the street, providing shade to homes, pedestrians, parked cars, and the street.
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Vines growing on vertical trellises, along with tall shrubs, provide very effective shade for the east side of this house.
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When preserving a tree, construct a temporary fence around the tree canopy and post signs to keep out vehicles that might compact soil and construction waste that could contaminate the soil.