• To notice a cooling effect in and around your home, the key areas you want to shade on the east, west, and south sides include walls, doors, windows, air conditioner units/condensers, the roof, driveways, and patios.
• When you develop your plan, think about a “horseshoe” around your home with the open end facing north. Consider potential locations around your home on the east, south, and west sides of your home (in the same shape as a horseshoe).
• For large trees, you can plant them at greater distances from your home, while still providing energy savings.
• For medium trees, energy savings is still possible closer to your home on the east and south sides, but you can still save on the west side at greater distances.
• For small trees, still you can have energy savings on the east and west sides of your home where sunlight is absorbed in the morning (east) and afternoon (west).

Identifying Your Climate Zone

Los Angeles, as you know, has mild wet winters and hot dry summers. However, there are several so-called climate zones within Los Angeles, and some trees work best in certain zones – although many trees offered through Trees for a Green LA will thrive in all of the city’s climate zones.