There are many reasons why homeowners might wish the gardens around their property to have landscaping, and many times it will be to improve the appearance. In addition, there can be financial advantages to having gardens landscaped with the most obvious ones being an increase in the value of the property, and increasing the possibility of being able to sell a property quickly.
There is a further financial incentive, which in the vast majority of landscaping projects is often not considered, and that is that landscaping can increase the energy efficiency of the property in question. The savings which can be accrued, as a result, apply to any utility that you would normally expect to pay a bill for, such as water, gas, or electricity. Below are 6 examples that can be incorporated into a landscape design to achieve energy efficiencies.
Establish Natural Windbreaks
In those months where the temperature dips and the need to heat your home is exacerbated by strong winds, there is a landscaping solution, and it comes in the form of natural windbreaks. If you can establish the primary direction the cold winds come from you can plant tall, thick plants such as hedges, bushes or trees which can reduce the amount of strong wind which reaches the outer walls of your home.
Insulate Your Home Using Greenery
The more heat within your home which you retain by preventing its escape, the less you will spend in heating it in the first place. Create natural insulation by surrounding your home with plants creates an air gap. This air gap acts as an insulator. An easy way to achieve this is using trellises attached to your walls on which climbing plants can grow and as they grow thicker, the level of insulation increases.
Use Plants That Do Not Require Much Water
The less water which you use to irrigate the plants within your landscaping design, the lower your water bills will be, and this is where this tip can help. As much as possible, try to use plants that are known to not require much water. These drought-tolerant plants thrive with less water and also tend to require less maintenance too, meaning you save having to use another type of energy…yours!
Use Hard Walkways Which Can Retain Heat
This is an excellent tip for areas that have hot sunny days, but when the sun goes down at night, the temperatures drop so low that homes require heating. If you use hard walkways, patios, and pathways, made from stone or concrete, these will retain much of the heat generated during the day. After sunset, they will reflect some of it to the home, reducing the heating level required, and in turn your energy bills.
Plant Trees That Can Provide Shade
Energy bills are paid for the energy to heat a home, and to cool it too, such as when the air conditioning is switched on during the summer months. Just as you are cooler when you sit in the shade, so is your home cooler if it is shaded. This shade can be provided by planting tall trees and bushes on the side of your home which attracts the sun during the day. It should mean you can turn the air conditioning down and save money on your energy bills.
Only Use Energy-Efficient Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting when used as part of a landscaping design can look stunning at night, but this can also mean additional energy costs. This can be reversed by first, ensuring that the lighting you install uses only energy efficacy bulbs. A step further is to install solar-powered lighting which charges up during the day whilst the sun is shining and at night costs you zero dollars in terms of electricity usage.
