Hydro One has tips for tree planting

May 22, 2013 · 0 Comments

Trees have an important place in communities and ecosystems, and can also be highly beneficial for the individual home.
In the interest of promoting both ecology and power saving, Hydro One has some tips on how tree planting can make daily lives easier.
Certain placement of trees can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and air conditioning, the utility reported. Keeping the house in the shade of deciduous trees can reduce heat accumulation in summer, but have the opposite effect in winter, when the leaves have been shed.
Tight clusters of conifers and shrubs can also serve as a windbreak against harsh winter gusts, slowing the wind the house is exposed to by up to 60 per cent, with only a single row of white pines.
Ground level evergreen shrubs can serve a similar purpose if planted around basement walls, insulating the house and reducing exposure to wind.
Safety is paramount, and the improper planting of a tree can have consequences for a whole community. Around 30 per cent of Ontario power outages are caused by contact between trees and power lines, so it is important not to plant tall-growing trees closer than eight meters from the lines and also to call Ontario One Call (1-800-400-2255) before digging to make sure underground lines aren’t going to be affected.