5 Clever Landscaping Ideas to Reduce Your Cooling Costs This Summer
As summer approaches, we are already starting to see triple digit temperatures in many cities and suburbs of America. You may be wondering if there is anything you can do to keep your energy costs down during the hot season.
Here are 5 helpful landscaping tips to help you keep your home cooler this year.
PLANT ONE OR TWO TREES NEAR YOUR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT
Planting one or two young trees near your air conditioner can mean that in about five years when your tree has reached young adulthood, you will have shade to protect your air conditioner from direct sunlight. Be sure to plant a tree that does not drop vegetation that will clog your air conditioner (like mimosa trees or cottonwood trees do).
Plant the tree far enough from the foundation of your home and your air conditioning unit so the roots have plenty of room to grow uninhibited but close enough to your unit to benefit from the shade its canopy will provide. Planting the correct tree near your air conditioning unit can keep your air conditioner running 10 percent more efficiently and reduces the ambient operating temperature of the unit by 6 to 7 degrees. For best results, avoid planting anything within one to two feet of your air conditioner.
2. PLANT A NEW TREES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF YOUR HOME
Sun on the South and West sides of your home have the most impact on your home’s ambient temperature. Plant new trees in these areas to help reduce cooling costs. Planting a six to eight foot tree in these sectors will help shade your windows in their first year and depending on the species, may grow to provide shade to the roof of your home as well.
3. PLANT WINDBREAKS NEAR YOUR HOME
Plant trees, bushes, or shrubs around your home to help block warm air from your home’s exterior. This will help reduce the home’s temperature and slow down surrounding wind speeds. Plant a dense windbreak at least a foot away from your home for best results.
4. USE DARK GROUND COVER
Use darker stone or wood mulch chips as ground cover as opposed to lighter colored materials such as light-colored stone or granite. The darker colored ground cover will absorb the light and heat instead of reflecting it back onto your home.
5. ADD A WATER FEATURE
Adding a water feature like a pond or fountain can help cool your property considerably by allowing an upwind to cool the air. A water feature also looks great and can be a great conversation piece on your property.
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