Many websites provide tools and information to help home owners, building managers and designers with energy efficiency. Below is a listing of tools taken from links from Energy Program at FedCenter.gov that relate to energy conservation, alternative energy sources and …
Windbreaks for Energy Conservation
Effective use of trees and shrubs as a windbreak and area screen.
People go to great lengths to conserve energy in this era of tight budgets and environmental awareness. However, many do not realize that the simple act of planting …
Tree Planting for Lower Power Bills
Whether it is winter or summer, trees can help you save energy at home.
Shade for Savings
Did you know that only 17% shade over your house during the day translates to a savings of 10 dollars a month on …
Christmas Trees: Pros and Cons of Live or Artificial Trees
Trees ready for Christmas at a tree farm in North Carolina.
Until their time comes to grace homes with ornaments and shade presents, a natural, or live, Christmas tree will help purify groundwater, stabilize the soil, recycle air, and serve …
How do trees and other vegetation affect urban mesoclimates and microclimates?
Vegetation affects urban mesoclimate and microclimate by intercepting solar radiation, directing air movement, and affecting air temperature. Microclimate, mesoclimate and macroclimate can be used to describe the climate of a given location. Macroclimate covers hundreds of square miles and parameters …
Uses of Urban Vegetation to Moderate Climate
Climatology is the study of weather and its changes over long periods of time. The climate within a given location can be described from three aspects: macroclimate, mesoclimate, and microclimate. Macroclimate, mesoclimate and microclimate can be used to describe the …
I want to burn firewood to save on heating costs. Burning wood releases CO2 but so does a power plant burning coal to make electricity to heat my house. Can you quantify the tradeoff? Which is better?
Coal and wood are energy sources that essentially have the same origin – Energy from the sun, that has been converted into chemical potential energy, stored in the bonds of carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. In both cases, this …
What Can I Do to Promote Energy Conservation with Trees in My Community?
The best ways to promote energy conservation with trees in your community are educating others about the benefits of urban trees, advocating for tree planting and protection, and taking action to increase local tree canopy cover.
Although most people can …
Can urban tree waste be used as a renewable energy source?
With concerns about scarcity and environmental impacts of fossil fuels, markets and technologies are emerging to use tree waste as an energy source. Although timber harvesting residues currently account for the majority of energy production from tree waste, efforts are …
The Benefits of Evergreen Conifers for Energy Conservation
More than 100 species of native and introduced evergreen conifers are found in the forests and cities of North America. These conifer species have evergreen needles and bear seed cones; however, they vary considerably in where they are found, how …