Featured Energy Tip

Tree Planting Energy Tips

Properly planted trees can help cut energy costs by protecting your home from winter wind and summer sun. Following are tips to help you increase efficiency by properly planting trees in your yard.

• Plant tall trees, such as maple, oak, pine and spruce, to provide summer shade.
• Trees planted to shade driveways, patios, sidewalks and streets will help create a cooler atmosphere around the home by transpiration, a natural evaporative cooler.
• Place air conditioners away from south windows and shade them with deciduous trees. This will help your air conditioner run more efficiently by making the area cooler while still allowing good air circulation.
• Avoid planting trees on the south side of your home. Trees planted on the south side will block solar warmth on winter days.
• If trees already exist on the south side of your house, prune them to allow more sun through.
• Plant coniferous trees – trees that keep their “leaves” all year round – on the north and northwest side of your home to block wind.
• If planting trees within 35 feet of power lines, make sure that the trees you choose have a mature height of less than 15 feet.
• Remember to call before you dig! Dakota Electric members can call 651-454-0002 or 800-252-1166 to have lines located before digging. When you call have the following information available:
  • Your name
  • Phone number
  • Street address
  • Dig location
  • Nearest intersection
  • Type of work planned
  • Start date and time

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