Plant a tree and save money

So while you're outside planting your annuals, perennials and shrubs in your garden, think about planting a tree near your home.

Believe it or not, mature trees can save you enough energy to operate a dishwasher once a day for a year.

Andrew Millward, co-author of the study and a geography professor at Ryerson University, explains, "Our urban environment has many structures made of concrete and asphalt, which absorb a great deal of the sun's energy, creating a 'heat-island' effect.

"To mitigate the rise in city temperatures during the summer, we need to protect and expand urban vegetation cover, such as large trees, which provides shade and cooling in the areas that we live and work."

And besides helping us save on our energy bills, trees also provide environmental benefits such as reducing air pollution, providing a natural habitat for wildlife, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and mitigating storm water runoff.

If you currently do not have any trees, Millward suggests planting a native tree species either west or south-west of your residence. This location provides the most shade during the afternoon, which is typically the hottest time of the day.

And those with trees already on their property, he suggests they find a spot to plant a tree that will give it enough space to grow.

And with temperatures rising as summer nears, a shady tree sounds like the perfect answer.

By Donna Donaldson, MSN Money

Do you think planting trees by your home will help reduce your energy consumption in the summer? Will you be planting a tree this summer?