Local Knowledge About Landscaping For Energy Conservation

Energy conserving landscapes reduce energy costs in a home during summer and winter. Ideally, the energy conserving landscape is also a water conserving landscape. It is possible to achieve as much as a 30% reduction in cooling and heating costs through careful landscape planning. By reducing wind velocity in the winter, an energy conserving landscape slows air leakage into and out of a house. In the summer, landscaping can reduce direct sun from striking and heating up building surfaces. It can prevent reflected light carrying heat into a house from the ground or other surfaces. Additionally, the shade created by trees and the effect of grass and shrubs will reduce air temperatures surrounding the house and provide evaporative cooling.