I didn't think it would be so beneficial, but when I built my house in upstate New York, my landscape architect told me I should plant a row of deciduous trees along my south facade. At first I thought he meant something very regimented and cold, but what he did was create a small deciduous forest at the back of my lot.

In the summer, the trees shield the house from the sun and allow a speckled light to play on the floors and walls. It is quite beautiful and the light quality and quantity are perfect. The cool thing is though, in the winter, that same sun heats our house to the point where we don't have ridiculous heating bills like some of our neighbors. Fantastic approach to passive relationships to the sun.

There is another technique that you might (or maybe already) have done, which is to plant a stand of low sitting coniferous trees on the north side of the house to block cold northerly winter winds from hitting and ultimately cooling the house.

Your landscape architect sounds like he/she knows his/her stuff so I am sure you have this or something like it already.

Adding trees and saving energy. How cool!!! I love the thought of not only planting more trees but doing it intelligently.

I love the dappled light of the sun on the floors and walls during the winter. Not only does it warm the house and the body, but also brings beauty and warmth to your heart.

I wish more developers, architects, contractors, and home buyers would consider the larger context of the home before just plopping a structure down in a row next to all the other houses.

It was so nice last week to have a few hours here and there when the sun broke through and warmed the house. It was quite beautiful to have a blanket of snow and sit on my couch and be bathed by the sun. Didn't last long and now its all melting back, but there are those times when the decisions my architect made shine through and make me so happy.

so when you "plant" trees in this fashion, how long do you have to wait to benefit from the foliage in the summer. I do think the concept is sound, but for many who intend to build on empty lots, this approach lacks applicability. Most people can't afford, or even want to plant more mature trees in a new lot.