Landscaping for Energy Efficiency
These days, it’s important to think about energy efficiency from every angle. Energy efficiency has grown way beyond alternative energy sources like renewable energy, electric cars, and environmentally friendly appliances.
Although all of the above are essential when trying to create a more energy-efficient and eco-friendly lifestyle there are other, often easier, changes we can make in other areas of our life.
Take landscaping for example. Did you know that by taking some time and spending a little money (and/or hard work), you can make your home more energy-efficient through landscaping techniques?
Below, we’ll dive into some of the best ways to increase your energy efficiency via landscaping.
Shading
Just as you might close your curtains in unused rooms on a hot, sunny day, you can use your landscape to provide additional shade to keep cool.
Did you know shading your home can reduce indoor air temperatures by up to 20℉?
You can plant trees, bushes, vines, and other vegetation around the perimeter of your house to provide protection from the sun.
For the best results, plant trees around the east and west sides of your home to provide shade to both windows and walls. As the trees grow, they should provide additional shade to the roof of your home.
Winter Sunlight
While shading during the hot summer is a great way to increase energy efficiency, if you get too much shade during cooler winters, you could deprive your home of the heat of the sun when you need it.
Therefore, consider planting deciduous trees—trees that lose their leaves in the fall—around your home. This will allow sunlight in during the winter while keeping it out during the spring and summer.
When planting deciduous trees, opt for the northeast-southeast and northwest-southwest sides of your home, unless you live in a climate that is hot year-round. This is because you don’t want to block sunlight from the south during the winter and even the leafless branches of trees can provide too much shade if you’re not careful.
Airflow
The landscaping around your home should be designed to direct breezes, not block them. So rather than planting a thick line of evergreens, vines, or shrubs around your home, allow space for the circulation of air. Doing so will ensure that warm air doesn’t get trapped along the outside of your house and warm up the inside when it’s hot.
Airflow is important for both the outside and inside of your home. A lack of ventilation inside can result in the accumulation of humidity, indoor air pollution, and the buildup of heat. To efficiently improve airflow and for a more comfortable indoor environment, consider installing a whole house fan.
Whole house fans are highly effective at exhausting indoor air and replacing it with fresh, outdoor air… ventilating your home in an energy-efficient way that consumes far less energy than air conditioning.
Here at WholeHouseFan.com, we have a wide selection of whole house fans, including Quiet Cool whole house fans, energy saving whole house fans, and more! Check out our most popular selling whole house fans too.