The reasons for providing shade outside and inside your home -- whether it comes from trees and shrubbery, or awnings and various window coverings -- reach far beyond aesthetics in importance. All of these aids can help keep the temperature down in your home. That translates into more comfort and more affordable energy bills. If you reside in a region routinely hit with summertime temperatures in the triple digits, you're very aware of how high energy bills can become -- even if you keep your air conditioning unit set to modest levels. It's quite common for energy bills to triple during the summer months. Consumers have little choice but to break the bank if the price they pay for frugality is sleepless nights and uncomfortable afternoons.

If you're a homeowner and have the freedom to plant trees, shrubs and other forms of landscaping, consider adding them not only because they'll keep your home environment cooler, they'll also enhance your property value. There's a bit of strategy involved in planting trees and shrubs. You'll want to do your homework, and select deciduous trees that require minimal care. Deciduous trees give homeowners the best of all possible worlds because they shed their leaves during the fall months. In other words, they'll shade your home from the sun during the summertime, and then, by shedding their leaves, allow the light in when the seasons turn cooler.

Of course, when researching varieties of trees, you'll want to find out which trees are native to your region. Trees are a considerable investment that, with proper research and preparation, you'll only have to pay for once. Also, find out how tall these trees will become, how fast they grow, and how far their average branch length is. If they grow like wildfire with many roots, you might have more shade than you bargained for -- not to mention a yard that is broken with lengthy roots. If you opt for a tree that doesn't shed its leaves each fall, you'll shiver during the winter months or pay more in heating bills.

To enjoy maximum benefits from your trees, plant them along either the northwest-southwest or northeast-southeast side of your home. If you plant your trees in a location directly south of your home, you're going to block perhaps more sunlight than you bargained for, which is advantageous only for those who live in climates that are very warm year-round. If you live in any other sort of climate -- one in which you experience some variation in seasons -- you'll find yourself too cold during the winter months if you plant obstructions to sunlight directly south of your home. So avoid planting trees of any sort -- even deciduous ones -- to the direct south (low-lying shrubs are a better choice).

Regardless of where you're planting trees, make sure you don't plant several of them very close together. Sure, that might give you maximum shade, but it could also produce a wall effect, blocking air flow from your home and possibly increasing the heat and humidity behind them. You want to be able to enjoy your trees but also feel a cool breeze blowing through them.

If you've ever taken a stroll through a historic neighborhood -- Boston's Beacon Hill is a good example -- you'll see the fascinating phenonmenon of old tree roots literally growing through iron gates and fences and poking up through brick sidewalks, making walking a challenge. Nothing stops the force of roots. So be careful not to plant your trees where their roots could potentially interrupt the path of sewer lines and/or septic tanks, the foundation of your home or underground wiring systems, to name but a few potential hazards.

Another option you may want to consider is a trellis. They're sold at nearly every home-improvement store or warehouse. You can grow inexpensive, quick-growing varieties of vines on your trellis. This is an excellent way to give yourself shade, a little privacy and relatively fast results. Your gratification comes much sooner than if you were to plant a tree in the same spot. Vines, just like trees, come in many varieties, some of which will be better-suited for growing in your region. Ask your local nursery for advice. When you install your trellis, make sure you keep ample room between each trellis and the side of your home. If you place them too close together, your vines might be tempted to attach themselves to your home's exterior. Subsequent runaway growth could cause damage to the outside of your home. Another disadvantage of placing a trellis too close to the side of a home is that the trellis keeps heat close to your home and heats the exterior and interior. Keeping them far enough apart (there is no "set" distance, so use your judgment or ask your local home-improvement center) will allow for adequate ventilation.

In addition, grass, ground cover and shrubs all provide shade that can keep the exterior (and subsquently, the interior) of your home cooler. Simply put, the more vegetation you have, the lower the surrounding temperature. Grass-covered yards are cooler than "uncovered" yards. Dark green leaves absorb sunlight, and the process of photosynthesis further decreases surrounding temperatures.

Homeowners also may elect to purchase outdoor shading devices -- primarily awnings, solar panels and screens, shutters and rolling shutters, and various types of shades. Awnings are particularly effective. Place them above the windows on the south side of your home, and you'll reduce incoming heat up to 60 percent or more. Place awnings above windows located on the eastern side of your home, and you can cut incoming heat nearly 80 percent. When you select an awning, choose a light-colored one that reflects sunlight rather than absorbs it. Keep your awnings up only during the summer months. Keeping them off during the cooler months will help you enjoy maximum warmth.

Shutters are a very attractive but expensive choice. The cheaper versions sometimes do not come with hinges that give you access to your windows so that you can open and shut them. Instead, you may have to "pop off" and "pop on" the shutters, which can be a hassle. Shades that roll up and down are easy to use and maintain, but when they're down, they block out light almost entirely. That could be a disadvantage depending upon your individual needs and preferences.

Solar screens are becoming increasingly popular because they eliminate the disadvantage of rolling shades; they allow homeowners to block light, yet continue to enjoy it at the same time. In addition, solar shades help prevent glare and provide privacy from the outside because they're tinted.

If you're on the hunt for indoor drapes or curtains, your best bet is to choose light-colored materials that are also opaque. That allows the light to be reflected, and for you to enjoy maximum privacy and a good night's sleep. Choose curtains and drapes made of high-quality materials with a tight weave; looser weaves allow light and heat to seep through the material. Install two layers of curtains or drapes on each window. That provides adequate insulation and privacy, no matter what time of year. If you're a renter, your shading options are significantly limited. However, most apartment complexes do allow their residents to install curtains and/or drapes in their units.

While the sun's rays beat down on us this year, you can stay as cool as a cucumber while you keep your home an oasis from the heat. All of these measures can be expensive, but as with all energy-saving measures, these initial costs pay large dividends when they stave off annually skyrocketing utility bills.

Related Articles:

Published: June 24, 1999

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

---

---

Courtney Ronan is a freelance writer who contributes a weekly column profiling various communities. She also writes a weekly review of real estate related web sites. Courtney's career in journalism has included recent stints as managing editor of Agent News and as associate editor of Texas Business magazine.