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PUBLICATIONS

The effect of shade trees on summertime electricity use in Sacramento, California

Published

Author(s)

Geoffrey Donovan, David Butry, Joshua D. Kneifel

Abstract

Although previous studies have shown that shade trees can reduce summertime electricity use, none have compared these reductions to other common energy-conservation measures. We demonstrate that a 30-year old tree planted on the west side of a house in Sacramento, California reduces summertime electricity use by 18%, which exceeds the savings from replacing the house s HVAC system, replacing windows, adding attic insulation or turning the thermostat up by one degree Celsius.
Citation
Technical Note (NIST TN) - 1671
Report Number
1671
NIST Pub Series
Technical Note (NIST TN)
Pub Type
NIST Pubs
Building economics

Citation

Donovan, G. , Butry, D. and Kneifel, J. (2010), The effect of shade trees on summertime electricity use in Sacramento, California, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed October 10, 2025)

Issues

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Created August 31, 2010, Updated October 12, 2021
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