Gardening Can Save Me $?
Here's How:
While the goal of most lawn and garden projects is to bring beauty to your outdoor space, a well-designed project can also improve your energy bill!
They can also increase the overall value of your home and provide additional benefits, such as reduced noise pollution, optimized water use and cleaner air around your home.
The two best landscaping strategies for improving the energy efficiency of your home are:
- Incorporate shading in the summer
- Incorporate wind-blocking in the winter
Shading
Shading your home is the most cost-effective way to reduce heat from the sun and reduce your air conditioning costs in the summer, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Having more plants and trees in your yard can reduce the air temperature by up to 6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pro Tip: Be sure to plant trees far away from power lines and right-of-way areas around your home. Also, plant them an appropriate distance away from your home so they do not disrupt your foundation or your roof as they grow. They can start shading windows immediately, but it may be five to 10 years before a newly planted tree will begin providing shade to your roof. That means you could start seeing results as soon as today on your bill!
When planting trees, consider the expected shape and height of the mature trees and where they will shade your home. A tree with a high mature height planted on the south side of a home, for example, will provide all-day roof shading in the summer, while a lower tree on the west side of your home can protect your home from the lower afternoon sun.
You can also use trees, hedges and other landscaping structures such as arbors to shade paved areas. Think about walking across your driveway barefoot on a hot July afternoon — if your driveway or patio is unshaded, it is probably quite difficult. That absorbed heat is also reflecting onto your home, causing your air conditioner to work even harder.
Want to discover the biggest energy users and losers in your home right now? Visit https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/home-efficiency/blue-ridge to see all the sources, areas, and appliances that use the most and least energy in your home.
For more summer energy-saving tips, visit blueridgeenergy.com/save.
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