Plants and trees can both cool your home and help cut down on your A/C bill, all the more so if you know their optimal positioning spots. Fortunately if you don't, Bob Vila—yes, Bob Vila—does.


For those looking to optimize their energy use during the summer, southfacing trees and plants aren't the way to go. Instead, position your greenery to the east or west of your home to block low, early, and late day sun. Decidious trees are a good bet in colder climates.

Bob adds:

Trees on the southern exposure have to shade only a small angle of high summer sun. For that reason, fast-growing, or columnar trees may be used. It is interesting to note that a tree 25 feet distant from a building must be over 50 feet tall to provide shade on the south side in summer. It takes a long time to grow a tree that tall. But if it's planted 10 feet from the building, it needs to be only 25 feet tall. In summer you'll want trees on the western exposure to protect the house from the hot afternoon sun.


Hit up the Vila-player for the full audio, then et us know if and how you use greenery to cool your home in the comments.

Using Your Plants to Keep Your House Cool [Bob Vila]