Pacific Southwest Research Station

Pacific Southwest Research Station
800 Buchanan Street
West Annex Building
Albany, CA 94710-0011

(510) 559-6300

Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics

Urban Ecosystems and Processes

Energy Effects of Urban Forests in Sacramento, CA

Summary

The future energy impacts of shade trees planted through a Sacramento utility sponsored program were evaluated. Detailed information on building and tree characteristics were collected for 254 residential properties and used to model hourly shading for each building. After factoring in increased heating costs from tree shade in winter, a total annual savings of $14 per tree was estimated. Data were coupled with information from a previous study of existing shade trees and potential residential tree planting sites to calculate impacts of Sacramento County.s entire urban forest on energy use for space conditioning. This is one of the first studies to scale-up data from individual properties and derive regional estimates.

Years of Research:  1994-1996

Funded by:  Sacramento Municipal Utility District, USDA Forest Service

Cooperators:  Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Sacramento Tree Foundation

Products / Publications:

1. Simpson, J.R. 2002. Improved estimates of tree shade effects on residential energy use. Energy and Buildings 34(10) - View Document [127.29 KB]

2. Simpson, J.R. 1998. Urban forest impacts on regional cooling and heating energy use: Sacramento County case study. Journal of Arboriculture. 24(4) :201-214 - View Document [1.46 MB]

3. McPherson, E.G. and J.R. Simpson. 1995. Technical potential for shade tree planting in Sacramento County. Davis, CA: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Center for Urban Forest Research - View Document [7.87 MB]

4. Simpson, J.R. and E.G. McPherson. 1995. Impact evaluation of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District's shade tree program. Davis, CA: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Center for Urban Forest Research