Take advantage of natural and man-made shade. Roof overhang is the most common method of architectural shading. Since the sun's arc is low in the winter and high in the summer, the overhang should be at least 30 inches. This shades the windows from the high summer sun but permits the sun to warm them in winter. Other shading and screening devices that offer energy conservation include wooden trellises, louvered overhangs, awnings, horizontal and vertical louvered panels, adjustable shutters for windows and doors, masonry grills, and extended porches.
Trees can provide shade in the summer if the trees are properly located.
Large deciduous trees, close to the east, south, and west sides of a house, provide shade for windows, roof, and walls. In the winter, these trees drop their leaves to allow solar heat gain in the house. Windbreaks on the north side of the house greatly reduce the wind velocity near the house, which reduces heat loss. This is important if the site is in an open, rural area, or on a hilltop. Evergreens are especially effective as windbreaks.