Easy Ideas for Energy Efficient Landscaping
A pretty backyard can only go so far. Many experts have proven that energy efficient landscaping that takes into consideration energy needs, may well save a family more then 30% of their usual heat or cooling costs – either in the winter or summer. These savings could tangibly translate to almost $250 worth of savings in a year.
Of course we would all like to save on our energy costs but how can we do this? There are several innovative ideas to look into when relandscaping your yard.
What About the Sun?
Where and how you can include energy efficient landscaping would greatly depend on the part of the country in which you live. Your home may be hit on three sides by the sun each day making the cooling system work extra hard during the hotest part of the season. Others may have a home that is situated on their property so that it faces morth-east with lots of shady trees on the south-west side making it very cold in the cooler months.
Plant large, deciduous trees and evergreens on the south-west side of your home this will create a natural shade landscaping design and a wall of protection from the sun’s pounding rays. The deciduous trees will lose their leaves in the winter allowing the sun’s warming rays to heat your home.
By planting deciduous trees that will lose their leaves during the fall this will also allow the sun to heat the exterior walls of your home as well as the cement patio, pathways and foundation.
Adding Protection from the Wind
One of the primary contributors to lowering home temperatures is the wind that blows through the house. Especially in the winter, this wind is particularly sinister as the wind chill is much colder than the normal atmospheric temperature in the area.
Ask your local nursery expert about using trees as wind breaks and which trees would be the best as well as fast growing. Some of the more sturdy walls or fences can also be excellent wind breaks.
Keep the Heat or Cool In
One way you can help save energy by making sure the warm or cool air does not escape from your home by adding insulation in the ceilings, gaskets around the doors, vents and windows, and having double pain windows.
Another way to help is through your energy effecient landscaping with thick shrubbery close to the home creating a natural barrier. This barrier should be close but leave a small space between the walls and the plants creating a dead air barrier. By communicating with your landscape architect your intentions he will know the best distance between home and shrubbery for this dead air barrier to be the most effective.
A properly maintained and landscaped home cannot only be attractive but practical. You will saving hundreds of dollars each year by making energy efficient landscaping a priority.
Find more information on landscaping go to Landscape Patio Design
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