If you've ever ducked under leafy branches to escape the blazing sun, you know that trees are nature's air conditioners. In fact, air over and around trees can be up to 25 degrees cooler than air over a sizzling blacktop. Using trees to shade the roof, walls and windows on the east and west sides of your house cuts down on summer energy use. Deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall, offer the double benefit of letting warm rays into your home during colder months. That's Judith Light.
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