Should you build a shade roof or plant shrubs close to the air conditioner or heat pump condenser unit?

Will shade reduce the operating cost of the air conditioner? Generally no.

Page top photo: excerpt from Parker et als. study in 1996, updated in 2002, demonstrate little savings by trying to build shade over the condenser unit. Here we explain why and we warn about possible harm to the equipment or even increased operating cost.

Should you Build a Shade Roof over your Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Compressor/Condenser Unit?

Bottom line: no, don't bother. Below we explain why shading the condenser unit isn't much use.

Watch out: some of our readers propose building a shade roof over the condenser unit, theorizing that protecting the unit from the heat of direct sunlight will reduce its operating cost. We don't recommend building a condenser overhead-shade.

1. If the AC or heat pump condenser unit shade roof or cover is too close to the top of the unit
   
   you'll block its airflow and increase its operating cost and reduce its life (and violate its installation procedures and possibly its warranty)
2. If the shade roof is quite high (48" or more) above the condenser unit
   
   it won't violate typical installation instructions, but it's also probably of only marginal value, because the volume of air flow is so large that the cooler air provided by the shade is simply too small in volume to make much difference to the condenser unit's operating cost or efficiency. (Soone 2000)
3. Both shade roofs and nearby plantings of shrubs or construction of fencing,
   
   even ventilated fencing close to the condenser unit can actually reduce its operating efficiency by reducing the free flow of air through the unit. (Soone 2000)

Really? Well, yes, according to the research we've found & reviewed. However best practice is to install the AC or heat pump compressor-condenser unit on the shaded and north side of the building.

In addition, as Soone and others point out, much larger programs to plant trees in whole neighborhoods can significantly lower neighborhood temperatures over an area dominated by pavement and buildings alone.

Research on Compressor/Condenser Shading Benefits / Requirements

• Huang, Y.J., Akbari, H and Taha, H., 1990. "The Wind Shielding and Shading Effects of Trees on Residential Heating and Cooling Requirements," ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 96, pt. 1, Atlanta, GA.
• Meier, A. K., 1990. "Measured Cooling Energy Savings from Landscaping," Proceedings of the ACEEE 1990 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Washington D.C.
• Sonne, Jeffrey K., Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny S. Parker, and Stephen F. Barkaszi Jr. MEASURED IMPACTS OF AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER SHADING (2002) [PDF] Florida Solar Energy Center, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (2002). - retrieved 2022/09/09 original source: https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2002/data/papers/SS02_Panel1_Paper24.pdf
  
  Abstract:
  
  A previous EPA study had recommended shading of exterior air conditioner condensers, using landscaping or other means, as a method to reduce space cooling energy use (Akbari et al., 1992).
  
  An additional study has been conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to quantify the space cooling energy savings from shading condenser units. The investigation consisted of before-and-after experiments conducted on three homes over a two-year period.
  
  Discussion excerpt:
  
  The probable explanation for the lower than expected performance in the experiments is that outdoor AC units draw in a volume of air that greatly exceeds that of the nearby shaded air volume.
• Parker, Danny S., S. F. Barkaszi, and Jeffrey K. Sonne. MEASURED IMPACTS OF AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER SHADING (1996) [PDF] Proceedings of the Tenth Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates, Fort Worth, TX, May 13-14, 1996 - retrieved 2022/09/09 original source: https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/6669/ESL-HH-96-05-08.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y
  Abstract:
  
  A study has been conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to examine if space cooling energy savings can be achieved from shading of residential air conditioning (AC) condenser units.
  
  The investigation consisted of before-and-after experiments conducted on three homes over a two year period. A recent EPA study recommends shading of exterior AC condensers, using landscaping or other means, as a method to reduce space cooling energy use (Akbari et al., 1992).
  
  Conclusion excerpt:
  
  We conclude that any savings produced by localized AC condenser shading are quite modest ( < 3% ) and that the risk of interrupting air flow to the condenser may outweigh shading considerations.
  
  The preferred strategy may be a long-term one: locating AC condensers in an unobstructed location on the shaded north side of buildings and depending on extensive site and neighborhood-level landscaping to lower localized air temperatures.
• U.S. DOE, ENERGY EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONING [PDF] (1999) U.S. Department of Energy, retrieved 2022/09/09 original source: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy99osti/17467.pdf
  
  Excerpt: ... [place] the condensing unit in a shady spot, if possible, which can reduce your air conditioning costs by 1% to 2%.

...

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