Plant for savings
How to create shade for energy savings
Saving money and saving energy go hand in hand. So, while money doesn’t grow on trees, the shade trees create can save energy and keep your bills cool through the summer. The key is knowing what, when, and where to plant around your home.
PEC Vegetation Maintenance Specialist Josh Mann is sharing tips for spring planting, including the best trees to plant in the Texas Hill Country and why. Mann is one of the few Master Arborists in the world, board-certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. Read about each tree type below to find one that fits your needs, and start planting your way to savings. Be sure to follow PEC’s planting guidelines.
Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
These evergreen shrubs can grow 10-20 feet high. Consider using this flowering plant to create attractive shade around your HVAC unit and help increase its efficiency up to 10%.
Post oak (Quercus stellata)
Another oak wilt-resistant species that can grow in poor rocky soil, this stately tree will produce great shade for your home. It can reach heights as tall as 50 feet.
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)
Hardy pecans can handle the heat and grow best in full sunlight up to heights of 65 feet. Plant this tree in areas where nuts will not disturb walkways and gutters.
Lacey oak (Quercus laceyi)
A small to mid-sized landscape tree with deep blue-green foliage, this oak wilt-resistant species provides great shade for south-facing windows with its low-spreading crown.
Burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
This large growing, oak wilt-resistant species can provide enough shade for your entire home. Its attractive bark and unique acorns make it a great specimen tree for your yard.
Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii)
The largest growing tree on this list,is a fast-growing red oak species. Plant it now to help reduce up to 90% of the sunlight hitting your walls, windows, and roof during the summer months.
Always dial 811 before you dig
Power and utility lines can be anywhere underground. Always call 811 before you dig — it’s the law and could save your life.
Find additional energy-savings tips at pec.coop/savings.