Figuring out where to plant a shade tree can save you money; Gastonia, NC

Figuring out where to plant a shade tree can save you money | shade, tree, butry - Local News - Gaston Gazette
May 22, 2009 - 11:17 AM
Michael Barrett
Plant west, young man. Or south. Or somewhere in between.
Using that approach when putting a shade tree beside your home can eventually reduce your summertime energy costs, according to a recent study.
The analysis by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and U.S. Department of Agriculture involved 460 homes in Sacramento, Calif. It found that trees positioned to shade the west and south sides of a house may decrease summer electric bills by 5 percent on average.
How applicable is that to homeowners in North Carolina? It's difficult to say, said David Butry, an NIST economist who co-authored the study.
"My hypothesis is the relative conclusions would hold across the U.S., but the magnitude would differ," he said. "It's going to really depend on the weather patterns of the region."