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Go Green, Live Rich: Plant a Tree

Lloyd Alter, Toronto

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By Lloyd Alter
Toronto, Canada | Wed Apr 16 17:21:00 EDT 2008

Marvin Lichtner//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

This is one in a series of tips from the book Go Green, Live Rich, by David Bach, which shows how reducing your footprint can increase your wealth. Read a review of the book on TreeHugger, where Bach is also a guest contributor.

Everyone knows that trees are green, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. However, David Bach tells us that they can also save energy costs.

Strategically planting trees and shrubs to shade your home can lower surrounding air temperatures during warm summer months by up to 9 degrees F; and reduce your wall and roof temperatures by 20 to 40 degrees, keeping your home naturally cooler. Over the year the average home could save between $150 adn $250 in energy costs- just with smart landscaping.

Over in TreeHugger, we have written that a deciduous tree planted on the south side of a house is the ultimate passive solar system; it shades in summer and lets the sun through in winter.

Difficulty level: Moderate

 
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