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The Effect of Urban Trees on Energy Use of Residential Buildings: A Case Study from Gainesville, FL

Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, Wayne Zipperer, and Basil Iannone


Release Date: 5/28/2025

Natural Resources

Abstract

A city's trees reduce its energy use year round by shading buildings and providing evaporative cooling in summer and by blocking icy winter winds. This fact sheet presents the results of a study estimating urban tree heating and cooling effects on residential buildings in Gainesville, Florida, from 2006-2007.

About this Publication

This document is FOR 211, one of a series of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date March 2009. Revised February 2012, May 2018, and November 2024. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. 

About the Authors

Francisco Escobedo, former assistant professor; Jennifer A. Seitz, former Extension associate, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences; Wayne Zipperer, research scientist, USDA Forest Service; and Basil Iannone, assistant professor, Geospatial Analytics of Sustainable Human and Ecological Development, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Authors

Francisco J. Escobedo
Francisco J. Escobedo

former associate professor, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Jennifer Seitz
Jennifer Seitz

former Project Learning Tree state coordinator, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL 

Wayne Zipperer
Wayne Zipperer
external
USDA

research forester, integrating human and natural systems, USDA Forest Service; courtesy faculty, urban forestry, School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL

Basil Iannone III
Basil Iannone III
Specialist
University of Florida

associate professor and state Extension specialist, residential landscape ecology, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Gainesville, FL

Publication #FOR 211

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