If you use an air conditioner, don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn it on. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. If you're shopping for an air conditioner, look for the Energy Star and EnergyGuide labels. The height, growth rate, branch spread, and shape are all factors to consider when choosing a tree. Evergreen trees and shrubs can be placed to deflect north and west winds during the winter, and south and west winds during the summer.
Vines are another source of shading and cooling in the summer.
Tip - Use Window Coverings to Save on Energy Costs Draperies and shades can help you keep your heating and cooling bills under control. During the heating season, keep the coverings on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. During the summer season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to block direct heat from the sun. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.