Trees can reduce air temperature by blocking sunlight. Further cooling occurs when water evaporates from the leaf surface. The conversion of water to air vapor --- a chemical process --- removes heat energy from the air.

A tree can be a natural air conditioner. The evaporation from a single tree can produce the cooling effect of 10 room size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.

You can improve the efficiency of your heat pump by shading it with a tree.
Deciduous trees block sunlight in the summer but allow sunlight to reach and warm your home in the winter ---- place deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home.

Trees can shade hard surface areas such as driveways, patios, building and sidewalks thus minimizing landscape heat load -- a build up of heat during the day that is radiated at night resulting in warmer temperatures. Ideally, 50 percent of the total paved surface should be shaded.

Evergreen trees can be used to reduce wind speed and thus loss of heat from your home in the winter by as much as 10 to 50 percent.

Trees absorb and block noise and reduce glare. A well placed tree can reduce noise by as much as 40 percent.
Fallen tree leaves can reduce soil temperature and soil moisture loss. Decaying leaves promote soil microorganism and provide nutrients for tree growth.

Trees help settle out and trap dust, pollen and smok