Upload
michael-adam
View
212
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Did you know that trees positioned strategically can save up to 25% of a household’s energy consumption? If not, you would do well to remember that landscaping may be your best long-term investment for bringing down your cooling and heating costs.
Citation preview
Landscaping Tips for energy saving
Did you know that trees positioned strategically can save up to 25% of a household’s
energy consumption? If not, you would do well to remember that landscaping may be your
best long-term investment for bringing down your cooling and heating costs. So, if you are
struggling with rising power bills, it’s time to consider landscaping tips for energy-efficient
homes.
Consider the climate
Due to its large size, different regions in the state of Texas have different climates, which
could vary from humid in the east to arid in the west. Since landscaping strategies for
conserving energy depend on the region you live in, you need to consider the climate and
plan accordingly. For example, people living in hot-arid regions should provide shade to
cool walls, roofs, and windows; use evapotranspiration by plants around the home to cool
the surrounding air; and channel summer winds towards homes etc. However, people
living in hot-humid zones should plan differently and maximize summer shade with trees
that permit penetration of winter sun even with a low-angle; allow summer breeze to get
easy access to homes; and avoid having planting beds near homes if they need frequent
watering.
Check your microclimate
Microclimate is the climate immediately adjacent to your home. The microclimate of your
home may be more shady, sunny, windy, rainy, moist, or dry than average local conditions.
For example, if your home is positioned on a sunny southern slope, it may boast of a warm
microclimate, even when you stay in a cool region. So, assessing your microclimate is
crucial to determine the type of plants that may or may not grow in that particular location.
Design and orientation of your home
If you are building a new home, ensure that it’s well-designed and well-oriented so that it
rejects overhead summer sun, allows low-angle winter sun, and minimizes the winter
winds’ cooling effect. You should also consider your location’s exposure to sun, water, wind
etc, and note the proximity and location of nearby buildings, trees, water bodies, fences,
and pavements, while assessing their probable climatic effects.
In case your home is already built, consider shading and wind protection to bring down
your electric bills.
Shading and wind protection
Before planting trees and shrubs for shade, assess your exact needs. If you need warm
sunlight during the winter while enjoying shade in the summer, opting for deciduous trees
that shed their leaves in the winter would be a good idea. However, for enjoying a year-
round shade, lush evergreens would be the ideal choice. You should avoid planting dense
foliage in close proximity to your home as such a step may cause moisture-control
problems.
You can use shrubs and trees with low crowns to offer you windbreaks that would block
winds close to the ground. Proper landscaping will not only let you enjoy excellent wind
protection, but also reduce your heating costs considerably. Though the most common
category of windbreak employs shrubs and evergreen trees planted to the northwest and
north of a home, you may even use bushes and shrubs along with a fence, wall, or earth
berm (man-made or natural walls or raised regions of soil) that can redirect or lift the wind
over your home.
So, use these tips to make your home energy-efficient, thus decreasing your power costs.
About Shop Texas Electricity- Shop Texas Electricity helps consumers and businesses compare
and shop for their electricity plans in Texas. Learn more about Shop Texas Electricity by
visiting us at www.ShopTexasElectricity.com