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Shade windows and walls before anything else

Stopping sun before it reaches the glass is the cheapest cooling there is. Exterior shading works far better than interior blinds.

How

1. Shade east windows in the morning and west and equator-facing windows through the day.
2. Prefer exterior shutters, awnings or solar screens. External devices keep the heat outside the glass.
3. Plant deciduous trees with high crowns on the equator side for summer roof shade and winter sun, and lower-crowned trees on the west for afternoon sun. DOE notes tree shade can cut nearby air temperature by up to about 3 C (6 F).
4. Do not plant evergreens close to the equator side of a solar-heated house.
5. Coordinate overhang depths with the design module and tree positions with the food and site plans.

Do these first

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Sources

1. Landscaping for Shade. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver, accessed 2026-11

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