A Hedonic Analysis of the Impact of Tree Shade on Summertime Residential Energy Consumption    (View PDF)

Ram Pandit and David N. Laband

Abstract: Trees cast shade on homes and buildings, lowering the inside temperatures and thus reducing the demand for power to cool these buildings during hot times of the year. Drawing from a large sample of residences in Auburn, Alabama, U.S., a statistical model was developed to produce specific estimates of the electricity savings generated by shade-producing trees in a suburban environment. This empirical model links residential energy consumption to hedonic characteristics of the structures, characteristics/ behaviors of the occupants, and the extent and density of shade cast on the structures at different times of the day.

Keywords: Electricity Usage; Economic Value; Shade Density; Shading Time; Tree Shade

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2010.010