Plant the right treeEnergy Efficient Landscaping

Increase the Beauty of Your Home and Decrease Energy Costs

A well-planned landscape can enhance the beauty of your home and boost energy efficiency for years to come. 

 

Winter Efficiency Landscaping

The biggest consideration is creating windbreaks to stop wind chills from having as much of an effect on the temperature around your home. Here are some tips on planting windbreaks.

  • Dense trees, such as evergreens and shrubs make the best windbreaks. 
  • Do not plant trees too close to the south of your home if you plan on using sunshine to help heat your home. A good rule is to plant your trees at a distance of 2 to 5 times the tree’s mature height.
  • If snow drifts are a problem, plant shrubs on the windward side of your windbreak to help trap snow.

 

Summer Efficiency Landscaping

The biggest consideration is shading your home from the heat. These tips will help you cut back on your cooling costs. 

  • Bushes around the perimeter of your home provide shade and absorb the sun’s rays. Avoid dense plants in areas where humidity is a problem. Air needs to be allowed to flow freely to keep the soil from becoming over-saturated.