Many of us consider that landscaping our yard only offers aesthetic benefits to our home. While a well landscaped yard looks great and can improve the curb appeal of your home, it could actually help you to save money on your heating and cooling bills. This is a surprising benefit, but what and where you plant could make a massive difference to your energy bills over the hot summer months.
Providing Shade:
One of the most obvious benefits of landscaping is that it can provide shade. Sun transfers heat through the windows, roof and walls of your home. This means that there is a potential to reduce your air conditioning costs by increasing the shade around your home. Research indicates that carefully planting shade trees could save you as much as 25% on your annual energy bills.
How to Optimize Your Landscaping:
There are several ways that you can optimize the landscaping of your home to enjoy these energy savings. Planting deciduous trees, or those that shed their leaves in winter, on the west side of your home, will provide shade from the setting sun during the summer. You will be able to enjoy these benefits without it impacting on the sun’s heating of your home during winter. Be sure to plant the trees at a distance that is far enough from the home, so that branches will not touch your roof and you won’t have your foundations compromised by roots from the mature tree. Try to choose a variety of tree that is lower growing to block the setting sun. You can also try planting taller trees on the south side of your home that will shade the roof during the day in summer.
You should also try planting near the pavement. Blacktop, concrete, and other pavement materials absorb and radiate heat towards your home. By shading this area, you can reduce heat gain for your home.
Vines and Trellises:
If you lack the space for planting trees, you could consider using vines and trellises. A trellis can provide shade to cool your home, without compromising airflow. Trellises can be used on patios, to cover block or concrete fencing, so they will also improve the aesthetics of the yard.
Shade Your AC Unit:
Your air conditioning unit will perform far more efficiently if it is well shaded. While you will need to ensure that there is adequate airflow, shading your unit with landscaping, will boost the energy efficiency of your system. Consider planting trees or using a trellis to cast shade on the unit, but keep shrubs and other plants, a minimum of three feet from the unit to prevent garden debris and leaves blocking it.
Carefully considered landscaping will more than boost the aesthetic appeal of your yard. Planting the right trees, shrubs and vines could provide you with a massive return on investment as you save money on your cooling bills year after year. This will not only help your wallet, but could reduce the environmental impact of your home.