Are you looking for cost-effective yet 

eye-pleasing ways to lower your energy

bills? Planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses,

and hedges could be the answer. In fact,

landscaping may be your best long-term

investment for reducing heating and 

cooling costs, while also bringing other

improvements to your community.

A well-designed landscape will:

• Cut your summer and winter energy

costs dramatically.

• Protect your home from winter wind

and summer sun.

• Reduce consumption of water, pesticides, and fuel for landscaping and 

lawn maintenance.

• Help control noise and air pollution.

This publication covers landscaping tips

to save money year-round; ways that landscaping helps the environment; important

climate, site, and design considerations;

landscape planning; and tree and shrub

selection. You can get

additional information 

on regionally appropriate

species from your local

nursery and landscaping

experts.

Landscaping Saves

Money Year-Round

Carefully positioned

trees can save up to 25%

of a household’s energy

consumption for heating

and cooling. Computer

models devised by the

U.S. Department of

Energy predict that the

proper placement of only

three trees will save an

average household

between $100 and $250

in energy costs annually.

On average, a welldesigned landscape provides enough energy

savings to return your

initial investment in less

than 8 years. An 8-foot

(2.4-meter) deciduous 

Landscaping for 

CLEARINGHOUSE

Energy Efficiency

ENERGY

EFFICIENCY AND

RENEWABLE

ENERGY

T OF ENERGY

DEPARTMEN

U

E

NITED STAT S OF A

ERICA

M

Mature deciduous trees provide shade in the summer and sunlight 

filtration in the winter.

This document was produced for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a DOE national laboratory.

The document was produced by the Technical Information Program, under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC) is operated by NCI Information Systems, Inc., for NREL / DOE. The statements contained herein are based on

information known to EREC and NREL at the time of printing. No recommendation or endorsement of any product or service is implied if mentioned by EREC.

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste

DOE/GO-10095-046

FS 220

April 1995

John Krigger
(leaf-shedding) tree, for example, costs

about as much as an awning for one large

window and can ultimately save your

household hundreds of dollars in reduced

cooling costs, yet still admit some winter

sunshine to reduce heating and lighting

costs. Landscaping can save you money in

summer or winter.

Summer

You may have noticed the coolness of

parks and wooded areas compared to the

temperature of nearby city streets. Shading and evapotranspiration (the process

by which a plant actively moves and

releases water vapor) from trees can

reduce surrounding air temperatures as

much as 9°F (5°C). Because cool air settles

near the ground, air temperatures directly

under trees can be as much as 25°F (14°C)

cooler than air temperatures above nearby

blacktop. Studies by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory found summer daytime air

temperatures to be 3°F to 6°F (2°C to 3°C)

cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods than

in treeless areas. 

A well-planned landscape can reduce an

unshaded home’s summer air-conditioning

costs by 15% to 50%. One Pennsylvania

study reported air-conditioning savings of

as much as 75% for small mobile homes.

Winter

You may be familiar with wind chill. If 

the outside temperature is 10°F (-12°C)

and the wind speed is 20 miles per hour

(32 kilometers per hour), the wind chill is 

-24°F (-31°C). Trees, fences, or geographical

features can be used as windbreaks to

shield your house from the wind. 

A study in South Dakota found that windbreaks to the north, west, and east of

houses cut fuel consumption by an average of 40%. Houses with windbreaks

placed only on the windward side (the

side from which the wind is coming) averaged 25% less fuel consumption than similar but unprotected homes. If you live in a

windy climate, your well-planned landscape can reduce your winter heating bills

by approximately one-third.

Landscaping for a 

Cleaner Environment

Widespread tree planting and climateappropriate landscaping offer substantial

environmental benefits. Trees and vegetation control erosion, protect water supplies, provide food, create habitat for

wildlife, and clean the air by absorbing

carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. 

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

estimates that urban America has 100 million potential “tree spaces” (i.e., spaces

where trees could be planted). NAS further estimates that filling these spaces

with trees and lightening the color of dark,

urban surfaces would result in annual

energy savings of 50 billion kilowatthours—25% of the 200 billion kilowatthours consumed every year by air

conditioners in the United States. This

would reduce electric power plant emissions of carbon dioxide by 35 million 

tons (32 million metric tons) annually and

save users of utility-supplied electricity

$3.5 billion each year (assuming an average of $0.07 per kilowatt-hour).

Also, some species of trees, bushes, and

grasses require less water than others.

Some species are naturally more resistant

to pests, so they require less pesticides.

Another alternative to pesticides is integrated pest management, an emerging field

that uses least-toxic pest control strategies.

One example is to introduce certain

insects such as praying mantises or ladybugs to feed on—and limit populations

of—landscape-consuming pests. 

Certain grasses, such as buffalo grass and

fescue, only grow to a certain height—

roughly 6 inches (15 centimeters) and are

water thrifty. By using these species, you

can eliminate the fuel, water, and time

consumption associated with lawn mowing, watering, and trimming. Also, recent

studies have found that gasoline-powered

mowers, edge trimmers, and leaf blowers

contribute to air pollution. 

2

Landscaping may be

your best long-term

investment for 

reducing heating and

cooling costs.
Climate, Site, and 

Design Considerations

Climate

The United States can be divided into 

four approximate climatic regions: temperate, hot-arid, hot-humid, and cool. The

energy-conserving landscape strategies

you use should depend on which region

you live in. These landscaping strategies

are listed by region and in order of importance below.

Temperate

• Maximize warming effects of the sun in

the winter.

• Maximize shade during the summer,

• Deflect winter winds away from 

buildings.

• Funnel summer breezes toward the

home.

Hot-Arid

• Provide shade to cool roofs, walls, and

windows.

• Cool the air around the home by plant

evapotranspiration.

• Allow summer winds to access naturally cooled homes.

• Block or deflect winds away from airconditioned homes.

Hot-Humid

• Channel summer breezes toward the

home.

• Maximize summer shade with trees that

still allow penetration of low-angle winter sun.

• Avoid locating planting beds close to the

home if they require frequent watering.

Cool

• Use dense windbreaks to protect the

home from cold winter winds.

• Allow the winter sun to reach southfacing windows.

• Shade south and west windows and

walls from the direct summer sun, if

summer overheating is a problem.

Microclimate

The climate immediately surrounding

your home is called its microclimate. If

your home is located on a sunny southern

slope, it may have a warm microclimate,

even if you live in a cool region. Or, even

though you live in a hot-humid region,

your home may be situated in a comfortable microclimate

because of abundant

shade and dry

breezes. Nearby bodies of water may

increase your site’s

humidity or decrease

its air temperature.

Your home’s microclimate may be more

sunny, shady, windy,

calm, rainy, snowy,

moist, or dry than

average local conditions. These factors

all help determine

what plants may or

may not grow in

your microclimate. 

3

Carefully positioned

trees can save up to

25% of a household’s

energy consumption

for heating and 

cooling.

Hot-Humid

HotHumid

Hot-Arid

Temperate

Cool

Cool

Cool

The climatic region in which you live affects the landscaping strategies you use.

BA-A124001
Siting and Design

A well-oriented and well-designed home

admits low-angle winter sun, rejects overhead summer sun, and minimizes the

cooling effect of winter winds. If you 

are building a home, pay attention to 

its orientation. 

In the northern hemisphere, it is usually

best to align the home’s long axis in an

east-west direction. The home’s longest

wall—with the most window area—

should face south or southeast. The

home’s north-facing and west-facing walls

should have fewer windows because these

walls generally face winter’s prevailing

winds. North-facing windows receive little direct sunlight.

You may be able to design and orient your

new house to maximize your homesite’s

natural advantages and mitigate its disadvantages. Notice your homesite’s exposure to sun, wind, and water. Also note

the location and proximity of nearby

buildings, fences, water bodies, trees, and

pavement—and their possible climatic

effects. Buildings provide shade and

windbreak. Fences and walls block or

channel the wind. Water bodies moderate

temperature but increase humidity and 

produce glare. Trees provide shade, windbreaks, or wind channels. Pavement

reflects or absorbs heat, depending on

whether its color is light or dark.

If your home is already built, inventory its

comfort and energy problems, then use

the following landscaping ideas to help

minimize these problems.

Shading

Solar heat passing through windows and

being absorbed through the roof is the

major reason for air-conditioner use. 

Shading is the most cost-effective way 

to reduce solar heat gain and cut airconditioning costs. Using shade effectively

requires you to know the size, shape, and

location of the moving shadow that your

shading device casts. Remember that

homes in cool regions may never overheat

and may not require shading.

Trees can be selected with appropriate

sizes, densities, and shapes for almost any

shading application. To block solar heat in

the summer but let much of it in during

the winter, use deciduous trees. To provide continuous shade or to block heavy

winds, use evergreen trees or shrubs.

Deciduous trees with high, spreading

crowns (i.e., leaves and branches) can be

planted to the south of your home to provide maximum summertime roof shading.

Trees with crowns lower to the ground 

are more appropriate to the west, where

shade is needed from lower afternoon sun

angles. Trees should not be planted on the 

4

North

W e s t

During the summer, tall spreading trees planted close to the home shade the roof.

Broad, shorter trees on the west side block afternoon solar heat. A windbreak on

the northwest side can shield the home from prevailing winter winds.

If you live in a windy

climate, your wellplanned landscape

can reduce your 

winter heating bills

by approximately 

one-third.

BA-A124004

To cool the south and west sides of the 

home, reduce paved areas, plant shade trees,

or add a trellis.

BA-A124004

SOUTH ➢
southern sides of solar-heated homes in

cold climates because the branches of

these deciduous trees will block some

winter sun.

A 6-foot to 8-foot (1.8-meter to 2.4-meter)

deciduous tree planted near your home

will begin shading windows the first year.

Depending on the species and the home,

the tree will shade the roof in 5 to 10 years.

If you have an air conditioner, be aware

that shading the unit can increase its efficiency by as much as 10%.

Trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants 

can also shade the ground and pavement

around the home. This reduces heat radiation and cools the air before it reaches

your home’s walls and windows. Use a

large bush or row of shrubs to shade a

patio or driveway. Plant a hedge to shade

a sidewalk. Build a trellis for climbing

vines to shade a patio area.

Vines can shade

walls during their

first growing season.

A lattice or trellis

with climbing vines,

or a planter box with

trailing vines, shades

the home’s perimeter

while admitting

cooling breezes to

the shaded area. 

Shrubs planted close

to the house will fill

in rapidly and begin

shading walls and

windows within a

few years. However,

avoid allowing

dense foliage to

grow immediately

next to a home

where wetness or

continual humidity are problems. Welllandscaped homes in wet areas allow

winds to flow around the home, keeping

the home and its surrounding soil reasonably dry.

Wind Protection

Properly selected and placed landscaping

can provide excellent wind protection,

which will reduce heating costs considerably. Furthermore, these benefits will

increase as the trees and shrubs mature.

The best windbreaks block wind close to

the ground by using trees and shrubs that

have low crowns.

Evergreen trees and shrubs planted to the

north and northwest of the home are the

most common type of windbreak. Trees,

bushes, and shrubs are often planted

together to block or impede wind from

ground level to the treetops. Or, evergreen

trees combined with a wall, fence, or earth

berm (natural or man-made walls or

raised areas of soil) can deflect or lift the

wind over the home. Be careful not to

plant evergreens too close to your home’s

south side if you are counting on warmth

from the winter sun. 

A windbreak will reduce wind speed for a

distance of as much as 30 times the windbreak’s height. But for maximum protection, plant your windbreak at a distance

from your home of two to five times the

mature height of the trees. 

5

Properly selected and placed evergreen trees

and shrubs can shelter the home from winter

winds and reduce heating costs. 

To block solar heat 

in the summer but 

let much of it in 

during the winter, 

use deciduous trees. 

A trellis with a climbing vine can shade a home and

allow air circulation.

BA-A124005

If south winds are a problem in the winter,

plant evergreens far enough away to lift

winds without shading the home.

BA-A124005

NORTH ➢

John Krigger
If snow tends to drift in your area, plant

low shrubs on the windward side of your

windbreak. The shrubs will trap snow

before it blows next to your home.

In addition to more distant windbreaks,

planting shrubs, bushes, and vines next 

to your house creates dead air spaces that

insulate your home in both winter and

summer. Plant so there will be at least 

1 foot (30 centimeters) of space between

full-grown plants and your home’s wall.

Summer winds—especially at night—can

have a cooling effect if used for home ventilation. However, if winds are hot and

your home is air conditioned all summer,

you may want to keep summer winds

from circulating near your home.

Planning Your Landscape

Before you start landscaping, you must

first develop a plan. The components of

your plan could include deciduous trees

and plants, coniferous trees and plants,

earth berms, walls, fences, sheds, and

garages. This section will help you create a

landscape plan before you plant around

your existing home or before you begin

construction on a new house.

Use paper and different-colored pencils to

begin designing your landscape. First,

sketch a simple, scaled drawing of your

yard. Locate its buildings, walks, driveways, and utilities (e.g., sewer, electric,

and telephone lines). Note the location of

all paved surfaces—streets, driveways,

patios, or sidewalks—near your home.

Then identify potential uses for different

areas of your yard: vegetable gardens,

flower beds, patios, and play areas.

Draw arrows to show sun angles and prevailing winds for both summer and winter. As you sketch, circle the areas of your

yard needing shade or wind protection.

Indicate with arrows how you want views

to be preserved or screened. Mark routes

of noise pollution you wish to block. Also,

highlight areas where landscaping height

or width may be restricted, such as under

utility lines or along sidewalks.

Notice yard areas that suffer from poor

drainage and standing water. Some trees

and shrubs will not grow well in poorly

drained areas; others will. Note existing

trees and shrubs. Plan for their replacement if they are old or sick and if they

provide valued shade or windbreak.

Perhaps you want more defined property

boundaries or less traffic noise. Consider a

“living fence” of dense trees, bushes, or

shrubs. Depending on its location and

application, this hedge can be customized

to be tall, short, wide, narrow, open, or

dense. Privet is a species of shrub that

grows in most parts of the United States

and can serve as a living fence. 

Areas of lawn not used as picnic or play

areas can be converted to planting beds 

or xeriscaped areas. Xeriscaping is a landscaping technique that uses vegetation

that is drought resistant and is able to survive on rainfall and groundwater once

established. Converting a traditional lawn

to alternative, water-conserving grasses or

other forms of xeriscaping saves energy

and reduces water consumption.

Perhaps you live in an urban area where

yards are small and neighbors close. Your

neighbor’s yard may be the best place for 

6

Originating in 

Denver, Colorado,

xeriscaping is a 

landscaping technique

that uses waterthrifty species which

are often native to 

the region. Once

established, they 

are able to survive 

on rainfall and

groundwater.

This plan drawing is for a south-facing house in a hot, humid region. Dotted

lines indicate potential problem areas. This home is exposed to hurricane winds.

BA-A124004

NORTH ➢
trees to shade your south-facing windows.

Your yard may be the best location for

their windbreak. Bringing your neighbors

into your plans could benefit everyone

involved.

The more you identify your goals and

familiarize yourself with your yard’s features—current and proposed—the better

your chances for success with your landscaping projects. 

Selecting and Planting 

Trees and Shrubs

Trees and shrubs come in all shapes and

sizes. How you select your trees and

shrubs and how you plant them will

directly affect your home’s comfort and

energy efficiency.

Trees and shrubs have a life span of many

years and can become more attractive and

functional with age. But poor planning of

landscape improvements often creates

trouble. Ensure proper plant placement

and minimal maintenance before you plant! 

Shape Characteristics

Tree shapes are very diverse—think of 

the difference in shape between an oak

and a spruce. The “Shading” section

under “Climate, Site, and Design Considerations” above discusses how to use

varying tree and shrub characteristics to

maximum advantage when landscaping.

The density of a tree’s leaves or needles 

is important to consider. Dense evergreens, like spruces, make great windbreaks for winter winds. If you are just

looking to impede summer winds, choose

a tree or shrub with more open branches

and leaves. Such trees are also good for filtering morning sun from the east, while

denser trees are better for blocking harsh

afternoon summer sun.

Growth

Should you plant slow-growing or fastgrowing tree species? Although a slowgrowing tree may require many years 

of growth before it shades your roof, 

it will generally live longer than a fastgrowing tree. Also, because slow-growing

trees often have deeper roots and stronger

branches, they are less prone to breakage

by windstorms or heavy snow loads. 

And they can be more drought resistant

than fast-growing trees.

Consider growth rate, strength, and brittleness when locating trees near walkways

or structures. Ask whether the mature

tree’s root system is likely to damage sidewalks, foundations, or sewer lines. The

smaller your yard, the more important it is

to select a tree with manageable roots.

Selecting, Final Planning, 

and Purchasing

Landscape professionals can help you

choose and locate new trees, shrubs, or

ground cover. Share your drawings and

tentative ideas with your local nursery or

landscape contractor. As long as you have

defined intended uses and spaces in

which planting is actually possible, a competent nursery or landscape specialist will

be able to help you make decisions. 

When planting trees, shrubs, hedges, or

bushes, find out how large the mature

specimen will grow. In all cases, determine 

7

Planting Tips

Many suburban and urban soils need loosening before you plant. If the soil is

compacted, till it to an area at least five times the diameter of the root ball.

Plant your new trees and shrubs on a cool or overcast day to reduce the stress

of relocating.

• Dig a hole in the tilled soil. The hole diameter should be roughly twice the

diameter of the root ball but the same height as the root ball.

• If your soil is very heavy or sandy, mix quality compost or potting soil with

the soil removed from the hole.

• Remove the plant from its container, gently freeing its roots.

• If the root ball is surrounded by burlap or wire, remove this before planting.

• Place the tree or shrub in the hole so that it sits at its original soil line.

• Firmly, but gently, fill the hole half full of the soil removed from the hole,

and lightly tamp the area around the root ball to remove air pockets.

• Water well, then fill the hole to the top with soil. Water again.

• Build a watering basin 3 inches to 4 inches (8 centimeters to 10 centimeters)

high around the new plant, about twice the diameter of the root ball.

• To retain root moisture and reduce weeds, cover the ground around the 

new plant with 4 inches (10 centimeters) of mulch. Use well-aged organic

materials such as old leaves and grass clippings, bark, and aged sawdust or

wood chips.

• Keep the plant well watered for the first year, but be careful not to drown it!

Watering deeply twice a week is usually sufficient.
Source List

The following resources provide more information 

on landscaping for energy efficiency.

American Association of Nurserymen (AAN)

1240 I Street, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 789-2900

AAN serves as a network of organizations representing garden

centers, landscaping, and horticultural interests.

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

4401 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

(202) 686-2752

ASLA is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, education, and skill in the art and science of landscape architecture. 

National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF)

100 Arbor Avenue

Nebraska City, NE 68410

NADF is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to 

tree planting and conservation. NADF sponsors National

Arbor Day each spring.

For general information about many kinds of energy efficiency

topics, contact:

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

Clearinghouse (EREC)

P.O. Box 3048

Merrifield, VA 22116

(800) DOE-EREC (363-3732)

Fax: (703) 893-0400

EREC provides free general and technical information to the

public on the many topics and technologies pertaining to

energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Reading List

Common Sense Pest Control, edited by C. Timmons, available from Taunton Press, Inc., 1991.

Cooling Our Communities: A Guidebook on Tree Planting

and Light-Colored Surfacing, H. Akbari, J. Huang, and 

S. Davis, available from Government Printing Office

(Document #055-000-00371-8), Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15220-7954, 1992.

Landscaping Design that Saves Energy, A. S. Moffat and 

M. Schiler, William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1991.

Landscaping for Energy Conservation, W. R. Nelson, available from the Building Research Council, College of Fine

and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, One East Saint Mary’s Road, Champaign,

IL 61820, 1991.

Xeriscape Gardening: Water Conservation for the American

Landscape, C. Ellefson, Macmillan Publishing Company,

1992.

8

spacing by the mature sizes. For those

plants close to your house, plan for at least

1 foot (30 centimeters) of extra clearance

between the full-grown shrub and the

wall of the home. This will prevent heavy

pruning or damage to home siding in 

the future.

After considering the placement of your

trees and consulting landscaping and

nursery professionals, go back to your

drawings or plans and add the new information on species, shape, and mature-size

spacing. This provides a final, prepurchase

review to make sure that all elements 

will work well together—in the short and

long term. 

When you are ready to purchase your

trees and shrubs, avoid buying damaged 

specimens. Thoroughly inspect the bark,

limbs, and roots to make sure the plant

was handled carefully during growing,

digging, and shipping. Reject plant stock

with signs of insects or disease (cocoons,

egg masses, cankers, or lesions).

After you purchase the plants, be sure to

keep tiny root hairs damp and shaded at

all times. The plants will not survive if

these root hairs are allowed to dry before

planting.

Contact your county extension agents,

public libraries, local nurseries, landscape

architects, landscape contractors, and state

and local energy offices for additional

information on regionally appropriate

plants and their maintenance requirements.