Do you dread opening your summer utility bill while living in the Phoenix area? Does the thought of another scorching afternoon trapped indoors make you sweat? If so, you’re not alone.
Phoenix summers are notorious for their brutal and relentless heat, putting a major strain on wallets and air conditioners. But what if there was a natural, cost-effective way to keep your home cooler? From reducing AC runtime to creating beautiful outdoor spaces, you’ll likely be surprised how trees contribute to a cooler, more comfortable summer experience while putting a few extra dollars back in your pocket.
Key Takeaways:
- Cities like Phoenix suffer from the urban heat island effect, where buildings and pavement trap heat, making the city hotter than the surrounding rural areas.
- Strategically planted shade trees can significantly reduce your home’s cooling costs by creating a cooler, more comfortable outdoor space.
- Planting native shade trees that thrive in Phoenix’s arid climate ensures they’ll survive and provide long-term benefits.
3 Ways Trees Help You Save on Cooling Costs
A well-placed tree can certainly add beauty, peace, and a bit of privacy to your property. But did you know tree benefits extend far beyond curb appeal? Let’s explore how trees help combat the scorching desert heat.
1. Trees Block Sun Exposure on Your Windows, Walls, and Roof
Trees planted strategically around a home can act like giant umbrellas, casting shadows across your house and blocking solar heat gain through windows, walls, and the roof. Temperatures under a shade tree are sometimes as much as 25 degrees cooler compared to the unshaded ground temperature.
But here’s the key – where you plant your trees makes all the difference. By planting trees on your home’s east, west, and south sides, you can block the intense summer sun and reduce summer air conditioning costs by up to 25%.
Be careful though – don’t plant trees too close to your home or the branches and roots could damage it. Plant shade trees about 15 to 20 feet from exposed exterior walls and windows. And consider planting deciduous trees on the south side of your home; these trees will let in light and warmth in winter when you actually want the heat!
DID YOU KNOW? If you’re a Salt River Project (SRP) customer, you can get two free shade trees to plant on your property to help keep you cool! The SRP Shade Tree Program™ currently offers six different types of desert-adapted trees that are tolerant of drought and sun. New trees will be approximately 2- to 6-foot saplings.
2. Trees Cool the Surrounding Air
The process by which water moves from the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere is known as evapotranspiration, and the easiest way to picture this process is like a tree’s way of sweating.
Just like humans sweat from tiny pores to cool down on a hot day, trees release water vapor from tiny pores on their leaves, called stomata. As this water vapor evaporates into the air, it absorbs some of the heat surrounding it, making the area around the tree cooler.
The bigger and leafier the tree, the more water vapor it releases, creating a more significant cooling effect, sometimes as much as 9 degrees cooler!
The cooler the outside air is, the less your AC unit needs to work to maintain a comfortable temperature inside.
3. Trees Reduce Heat Retention
Cities like Phoenix tend to be significantly hotter than the surrounding rural areas. It’s not just your imagination – there’s a scientific reason for it called the urban heat island effect.
Do you remember learning how dark-colored objects absorb and retain heat while light-colored objects reflect it? The dark pavement, sidewalks, and buildings that line every street in Phoenix act like giant heat sponges. They soak up the sun’s rays and radiate the heat back into the air at night, making the city feel even hotter.
A world without the trees’ shade and cooling effects would make our Earth one giant solar oven. While living in a desert environment that often feels like an oven, it’s important to have trees that act like natural air conditioners, providing much-needed shade and reducing overall temperatures.
Choosing the Right Shade Trees for Phoenix
The city of Phoenix understands the importance of urban tree planting and hopes to add enough trees to the community to provide 25% canopy coverage in our city by 2030. By planting more shade trees, you’re not just cooling your own home – you’re contributing to a cooler, healthier Phoenix for all residents.
However, not all trees are created equal, especially in a harsh desert environment.
<h3> Native Shade Trees Are Best for Cooling
When it comes to planting the right tree in the right place, it’s best to select a tree that’s native to the low desert environment around Phoenix. These native trees have evolved to withstand high temperatures, low rainfall, and intense sunlight.
But trees require regular watering, don’t they? With water being a precious resource in any desert, you might wonder if trees are worth the investment. Native trees have developed deep root systems that efficiently tap into underground water sources, which means your native trees can thrive even with less frequent watering.
Some of the best native shade trees you can plant in your Phoenix yard include:
- Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis julifora var. velutina)
- Feather Bush/Desert Fern (Lysiloma thronberi)
- Desert Ironwood (Olneya tesota)
- Arizona Ash (Fraxinus velutina var. glabra)
- Screw Bean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
- Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida)
Ready to Save on Home Cooling Costs? Call Titan Tree Care for Tree Planting Services!
When the Phoenix sun forces you indoors this summer, let Titan Tree Care help you save money with the perfect native tree for your landscape. Our certified arborist will assess your property, recommend the ideal shade provider, and position the tree to maximize cooling.
Titan Tree Care offers professional planting services to ensure your tree flourishes and provides a cool desert oasis for years to come. Don’t wait another summer to fight the heat – call us today at 623-444-8448 or request an estimate online now.
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Titan Tree Care is a full-service tree care company located in Anthem, AZ and serving all of North Phoenix. We offer a wide range of services to meet your tree care needs, including tree and palm trimming, tree pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, and more. We also offer insect or disease treatments and fertilization services. We are dedicated to providing high-quality, safe, and effective tree care services to our customers and work hard to ensure that your trees are healthy and look their best.
