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B6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday May 30, 2001 Homes & Gardens To reach this section call 845-3824 Passive solar landscaping can save energy costs For the first time since the oil crisis of the 1970s we are again looking at how efficient ly we use household energy. Whether it is high electricity bills for air conditioning or soaring fuel prices from the winter furnace, everyone is paying more these days. As costs rise, it makes sense to find ways to make our homes more naturally energy efficient. Architects have developed innovative guidelines for more energy efficient passive solar design. Unlike active solar systems that require panels and other expensive appara tus, passive solar pivots on the building's orientation toward the sun and the position of your homes windows. These concepts also extend into the landscape where plants have a great deal of influence on comfort levels indoors. Passive solar design is based upon condi tions in both summer and winter. During the summer you want as much shade as possible to keep the house and the spaces around it cool and comfortable. The most effective tool of passive solar landscaping is a decidu ous tree, which is naturally equipped to pro vide us with exactly the kind of effects we need. They are leafy and provide shade in the summer, then conveniently shed them by BRIAN BURTON Landscaping Forum winter to allow the sun to penetrate the branches. The value of shade tree shade is actually greater than you think. A tree casts shade on the space directly beneath the canopy at around noon time, but in the late afternoon when heat accumulates to the highest tem perature of the day, the angle of the sun extends the shadow to an area much greater than that of the canopy itself. Trees block sun without absorbing its heat, and due to their "transporation" they actually breathe out moisture that produces a evaporative cooling factor. During the winter shade is not a desirable feature. We want trees to be as open as pos sible so that the sun can reach the waifs and windows of the house and warm them up naturally. Although an evergreen tree will be beneficial in terms of shading, it can be a big liability in winter and prevent your house from warming. Each side of your house faces in a differ ent direction, and these exposures dictate how you plan passive solar landscaping. Because winter sun rises and sets much lower in the southern sky, it is the south exposure that is the most important. This side experiences sun most of the day, and is best able to heat your home by warming walls and windows. With the sun higher in the sky during the summer, that angle pre vents it from striking this side. Therefore the exposure of your south side should remain as completely open as possible to harvest this solar heating potential in winter. Thanks to Maureen Gilmer for her input: visit www.gardenforum.com Brian Burton is responsible for develop m ent of C orporate Partnerships fo r Communities in Bloom, a nationwide non-prof it volunteer organization that encourages and promotes com m unity involvement in heritage preservation, urban forestry and civic beautifi cation. www.communitiesinbloom.ca Photo by Decorating Den Interiors IN THE PINK: Okay, so it's not for everyone bit you have to admit this pink room can both lift your spirits and calm you down. Did you know some jails paint their cells pink if they're receiving particularly violent prisoners? Ah, you can almost feel the serenity. Iris, peonies at RBG The Royal B o t a n i c a l BUY DIRECT & SAVE Choose O ur Quality Lumber - Why "Wood" You Settle For Less? Pressure Treated or Cedar Lumber Priced tik e You've Never Seen! FENCES · DECKS · ADDITIONS · Lumber & Building Materials Roof Trusses · Drywall & Mouldings Engineered Floor Systems · Doors & Mouldings · Drywall & Insulation Pikes are sabfect te ch a n g e depending o nMiket com fitiotis Gardens has a full gardening season of semi nars planned and they include: Sunday, June 3: Canadian Iris Society Show & Canadian Peony Society Show 1 to 4:30 p.m. S u n d a y s , · · RENOVATIONS June 3 & 10: Iris & Peony Festival; Monet could not have done justice to the Laking Garden's iris and peony collection. Visit those two spectacular dis plays of botanical beauty and enjoy music and refreshments. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, June 9 & 10: American Peony Society Show M o n d a y - The success of any home project depends on two things... materials and know how. Our trained professionals are dedicated to providing you with all the tips and tricks to do the job right! · P re ss u re T re a te d I i m i l k m · L attice · C e d a r Luiiil>cr · I A iuiber A ccessories · A nd M uch M ore Be sure to include us in your next project... just bring us your plans and we'll make it easy to get started! Thursday, June 11-14: Four Day Evening Walk; RBG is the host site for this tradi tional Dutch walk sponsored by the Netherlands Board of Tourism. Call (905) 679-6777 for information. Saturday, June 16: RBG Auxiliary Tulip Bulb Sale; spring-flowering bulbs taken from the Rock Garden collection. 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday & Sunday, June 30 & July 1: Hamilton & Burlington Rose Society Show Saturday, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. S u n d a y s , Add an element of style and security to your yard this spring. Wouldn' t it be nice if alfyards were designed with a feeling of privacy and safety? We know they aren' t, which is why our stylish and functional fencing is a popular addition to any yard. Choose netv of materials artd designs j?ne^r> I^jty (itjq elf, thejn At M ain L um ber we have everything to build your deck! Cedar/pressure treatedlum ber, m s That describes our customers as well as our quality lumber. i 'ivssure 8 ' 2 X e " Ptassun? 10-16' 2 x 8 " Pressiuv 8 -1 G' 2 X 1 0 " ftvssuii? 8 -1 G' *1. 2 X 12 l^vssuiv 8 - 1 6 's 2. 4 " x 4 " h vs s u iv 8 ' sg 4 X 4 " Prvssiuv 10' ® x 6 " P lV `s s i in * JI- 1 C ' sg s| q | For any spring building project, trust our premium pressure treated lumber to do the trick. Our knowledgeable Eggl staff can help you hand-select the -- . wood you need, then arrange for -- delivery at your request. It' s our job to --r make sure your job goes smoothly. June 24, July 1 & 8: Rose F e s t i v a l ; So ^ V. Thousands of fra grant and colour ful rose blooms, from centuriesold antiques to the newest hybrids, burst out in time for this entertaining out door festival, fea turing musical e n t e r t a i n me n t , garden tours and a children's day. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. all w vour mouldings, doors, & dm vall acoefs&ries. " ' ' r -'-I*. * 485 5 TR4FALGAR RD., 4W ! ' OAKVILLE · 845-281Lit W WE RE OPEN R A ir THE I ju n b e r Store! ServingThe( )dl<rillc Kred For ( h er o )c> i m TO TH E PUBLjC Station -t VISIT OCR BURLINGTON LOCATION: TAMARACK L IM B E R . 3 2 6 9 NORTH SERVICE ROAD