One of the easiest ways to reduce solar heat gain and subsequent energy costs is as simple as planting a tree. The strategic placement of trees, known as landscape shading or tree shading, is a technique used to provide shade from the warm summer sun. Unobstructed solar heat can significantly increase indoor air temperature, which will frustrate efforts to keep the house cool. However, appropriate tree placement can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 9° F(12° C) through evapotranspiration -- the process by which a plant releases water vapor -- as well as the shade provided by the tree.
 
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25° cooler than air temperatures above nearby blacktop. Also, shade trees can reduce cooling costs by as much as 10%, which is important because the average home devotes almost a fifth of its energy expenditure to cooling.

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted the first large-scale study on landscape shading in 2007.  In Sacramento, Calif., 460 houses were studied over the summer to discover whether well-placed shade trees could reduce energy costs, as well as atmospheric carbon. Their specific findings were as follows:

• Trees planted on the west and south sides of a house decreased summertime electricity use, while trees planted on the north actually increased energy consumption.  Trees planted on the east side had no effect.
• Fast-growing trees are better energy-savers than slower-growing trees.
• Placement of the trees, particularly their proximity to the house, is a significant factor in their effectiveness as shade trees.

The DOE offers valuable tips for homeowners seeking to employ landscape shading strategies. They have determined that almost any shading application can be accomplished by selecting tree species with the appropriate sizes, densities and shapes. Follow their recommendations below for specific applications.

• Dense evergreen trees and shrubs will provide continuous shade and block heavy winds.
• Deciduous trees can be used to block solar heat in the summer while they let much of it in during the winter. In the summer, the leaves of deciduous trees will protect the home from the heat of the sun, and in the cold of winter, the leaves will fall from the trees and allow the sunlight to keep your home warmer.
• Shrubs and ground cover plants can be used to shade the ground and pavement around the home. Use a large bush or row of shrubs to shade a patio or driveway. Plant a hedge to shade a sidewalk. Build a trellis for climbing vines to shade a patio area.
• Vines can shade walls quickly, often during their first growing season. A lattice or trellis with climbing vines, or a planter box with trailing vines, will shade the home's perimeter while admitting cooling breezes to the shaded area.
• Shrubs planted close to the house will fill in rapidly and begin shading walls and windows within a few years.

Other considerations for the homeowner:

• To effectively employ landscape shading, you must plan out the location, size and shape of the shadows cast by your trees and shrubs.
• Get to know your climate and microclimate before attempting to reduce energy bills through landscape shading. Homes in cool regions may not require any shading, while other homes may require only moderate shading. 
• Fast-growing trees will begin shading your house quickly, but slow-growing trees will generally live longer. They are also more drought- and insect-resistant while less being prone to limb breakage by windstorms due to their deep root structure. A 6-foot to 8-foot (1.8-meter to 2.4-meter) deciduous tree will shade the roof in five to 10 years, depending on the species and the home. The Southern magnolia, for instance, will grow relatively slowly but will eventually reach an impressive 30 feet high, supported by a deep and sturdy root structure. Meanwhile, the faster-growing cherry plum will rise to a height of a more modest 20 feet.
• If wetness and humidity are already a problem, it might make the issue worse to allow dense foliage to grow immediately next to your home. Well-landscaped homes in wet areas allow winds to flow around the home, keeping the home and its surrounding soil reasonably dry. Be sure to ask your InterNACHI inspector during your next scheduled inspection about moisture-related problems in your home.
• Aesthetics can be enhanced through landscape shading. Vines, in particular, are functional elements that can greatly augment a home’s historical or natural appeal.

In summary, landscape shading can be used to reduce energy bills and enhance a home’s appearance, but the cost of the trees themselves, as well as their physical properties and location, should be carefully planned. 

Savings will vary, depending on where you live, but a mature tree that was strategically placed has shown to trim cooling costs by as much as $400 per year. 

For questions concerning property inspections, or to schedule your property inspection, contact Bennett Property Inspection today at (813) 260-9920.

Article Source:InterNACHI

Winter in Florida equals condensation season for many homeowners. Condensation is the accumulation of water on relatively cold surfaces. 

Here is your physical science lesson for the day: almost all air contains water vapor, the gas phase of water composed of tiny water droplets. The molecules in warm air are far apart from one another and allow the containment of a relatively large quantity of water vapors. As air cools, its molecules get closer together and squeeze the tiny vapor droplets closer together, as well. A critical temperature, known as the dew point, exists where these water droplets will be forced so close together that they merge into visible liquid in a process called condensation.

The best way to describe this condition is with a soda can analogy. Pull an ice cold soda can out of the cooler in a warm house and let it sit for a while. What happens? The can begins to form little beads of sweat, and that is the same principle behind a sweating window. This type of situation can often be seen by the temperature imbalance between the inside and outside portions of old, inefficient windows, a large majority being aluminum windows.

Sweating windows are a common and prevalent problem in Florida. Many builders believed that insulated, energy-efficient windows were not necessary in this warm climate. In fact, most said it was a waste of money. This line of thinking changed in 2010 when Florida adopted a new building energy code that mandates energy-saving improvement in many areas of a home, especially windows. Aluminum framed windows can still be used when building a home, but energy efficiency must be created in other areas of the home through a complicated energy calculation.

Temporary Condensation

There are several ways to tell if the condensation on your windows is temporary.  Does condensation usually form:

• during baths and showers, cooking, dish washing, laundry, or other steam producing occasions?
  
• during the start of each heating season? Houses absorb moisture during humid summers. This will dry out after a few weeks of heating.
  
• during sharp temperature changes? Sudden drops in temperature, especially during the heating season, can create temporary condensation.
  
• during new construction or remodeling? Building materials contain a great deal of moisture.  When the heat is turned on, this moisture will flow into the air inside the home. It usually will disappear after the first heating season.

Problem Condensation

Excess moisture in your home may eventually cause problems. It may be time to take action if you notice the following signs in your house:

• Condensation remains on windows throughout the day, even when the outside temperature has warmed up. 
  
• Condensation is forming and running down the walls. It may also be causing discoloration, staining, peeling wallpaper and blistering paint.
  
• The air smells musty – this could indicate mold, mildew, or in the worst cases, rot – or odors from everyday household activities that linger too long. Odors increase in intensity with high relative humidity.
  
• Mold, mildew, rot and/or decay are visible. Mold and mildew thrive in most areas and can cause health and house damage.

Window Condensation Solutions

1. Reduce Moisture Sources

• Stop or severely limit the use of humidifiers, or adjust them to the appropriate setting.
  
• Run a dehumidifier if needed.
  
• Limit plants, aquariums, and pets. If you care for a lot of plants, group them in one sunny room and avoid over watering.
  
• Have your gas appliances checked, if you have not recently. Malfunctioning gas appliances can deliver excessive water vapor into the air along with more dangerous contaminants. Be sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm.
  
• Store firewood outside.
  
• Eliminate plumbing leaks.
  
• Don’t air-dry clothes indoors.
  
• Correct grading and drainage problems around exterior of your home.

2. Increase Ventilation

• Open windows for a few minutes each day, particularly after steam-producing activities such as showering/bathing, laundry, and cooking. Heat loss will be minimal.
  
• Run kitchen, bathroom, and other fans longer and more often.
  
• Improve or add a ventilation system in your home through attic, roof and soffit venting. Ensure that everything vents to the outside.
  
• Open blinds and drapes. Heavy window coverings restrict the flow of warm air over the interior glass surface.
  
• Operate ceiling fans to improve air circulation.

3. Increase Air Temperature

• Raise the temperature inside the house.
  
• Insulate under the seat and over the head of bay, bow, and garden windows to keep window area warmer.
  
• Direct warm-air supply ducts toward windows or even use a fan for increased air circulation at windows.
  

For questions concerning property inspections, or to schedule your property inspection, contact Bennett Property Inspection today at (813) 260-9920.