Trees affect energy consumption by shading buildings , providing evaporative cooling , and blocking winter winds . Trees tend to reduce building energy consumption in the summer months and can either increase or decrease building energy use in the winter months , depending on the location of trees around the building . Estimates of tree effects on energy use are based on field measurements of tree distance and direction to space conditioned residential buildings ( McPherson and Simpson 1999 ).
Because energy-related data were not collected , energy savings and carbon avoided cannot be calculated .
Table 3 . Annual energy savings due to trees near residential buildings , Mount Auburn Cemetery Sample Plots |
|
Heating |
Cooling |
Total |
MBTU a
|
0 |
N / A |
0 |
MWH b
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
Carbon Avoided ( pounds ) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
a MBTU - one million British Thermal Units b MWH - megawatt-hour
Table 4 . Annual savings a ($) in residential energy expenditure during heating and cooling seasons , Mount Auburn |
Cemetery Sample Plots |
|
Heating |
Cooling |
Total |
MBTU b
|
0 |
N / A |
0 |
MWH c
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
Carbon Avoided |
0 |
0 |
0 |
b Based on the prices of $ 211.1 per MWH and $ 13.7995200386294 per MBTU ( see Appendix I for more details ) c MBTU - one million British Thermal Units c MWH - megawatt-hour
⁵ Trees modify climate , produce shade , and reduce wind speeds . Increased energy use or costs are likely due to these tree-building interactions creating a cooling effect during the winter season . For example , a tree ( particularly evergreen species ) located on the southern side of a residential building may produce a shading effect that causes increases in heating requirements .
I-Tree Report of Ecosystem Analysis at Mount Auburn Cemetery Insert to the Climate Action and Sustainability Plan
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