An efficiently well-designed landscape can not only make your home look more appealing and beautiful, but it can also reduce cooling and heating costs. Plants, shrubs, or trees placed in certain areas can act as a windbreak, and save up to 25% of what a normal household uses. The landscaping strategies you use depend on the climate of the region you live in. You also will need to take into account your ‘microclimate’. A microclimate is an area where you specifically live and may have more sunlight, shade, rainfall, snow, or breezes than other locations. Things like nearby bodies of water can increase or decrease the humidity or temperature in your area.
For hotter regions, you should look to landscape for plants and trees that provide shade to cool roofs, walls, and windows. They should also block hot winds from air-conditioned homes, whereas none air-conditioned homes should have the winds directed at them. If it is a humid region, then plant beds should not be located near the home if they require frequent watering. It would be wise to invest in a property with an outdoor area that has open walls but a roof over it. Then, a tree place in front of this will ensure that you will be kept cool during summer days, whilst enjoying any breeze that comes through. Moreover, the outdoor area will not become hot.
If the region has a cool climate, shrubs and trees should be placed as windbreaks to protect the home from cold winter winds. They should not be placed so as to block the sun from windows.
These are some energy-efficient strategies that can help you to reduce costs related to heating and cooling. Landscaping can achieve the same outcome, and all it takes is a bit of strategy.
