If you’d like to make your home more energy efficient, think about going outdoors and taking a look at your landscape.

Trees can have a tremendous impact on your home’s energy needs, even though the change can be quite slow in coming. In addition, adding trees can improve the environment and lower your carbon footprint as well.

The kind of trees around your house and their location can make a difference in the environment inside, whether the area that you are living is warm or cool.

You need trees, if you consider air conditioning as one of life’s necessities. And though many people are hesitant about trees that are too close to the walls of their house, a deciduous tree that gives shade to your roof or casts a shadow over the walls that would otherwise be baking in the sun – particularly in the afternoon – is a good thing.

Offering quick growth and shade, poplars, also known as softwoods, are easier to break and more likely to be damaged in the winds of a summer storm or the ice of winter. Instead, opt for a more reliable variety such as a maple, some of which are fairly quick to grow. Although noted to be slow in growing, oaks can be very durable however once they are grown.

Since the temperature may begin climbing in the spring well before the sun is rising in the northern part of the eastern skyline, these trees will do the most good if they are to the south, east and especially the west of your home. On the western area, the trees will keep the hot afternoon sun off your house and contribute the most to help keep temperatures down.

Evergreens, such as pines or hemlocks, can be included in the landscape for summer cooling, but should not be placed on the south side of the house. In the west they can help keep down the heat while other trees are still growing their foliage. Where solar heating is a good thing, do not place them on the south side because they may block the warm rays during the winter.

Planted on the north side of your home, evergreens can be beneficial year round. You will not want them too close to your house, however, as they are all softwoods and susceptible to breaking. They can also, at the very least, lessen the impact during winter of even the iciest northern breezes or perhaps eliminate them altogether. When the sun is at its most northern point at mid summer, they may offer a little shade even if they may be placed quite farther from the house for safety considerations.

On the east side of your house, trees are less important since the sun isn’t usually hot in the mornings. However, a little shade won’t hurt, so if you must, consider mainly deciduous trees to be planted there as well.

We have authentic log cabin furniture like a log bed.