There are many things that you can do with landscaping to make your home more energy efficient.
- Trees and shrubs strategically planted around the house can provide shade to cool your home in the summer and act as windbreaks in the winter to help reduce heat loss.
- In hot climates, the more "green" around the house opposed to asphalt, concrete, or stone will keep the house cooler.
- Landscape architectural structures such as fencing, arbors, trellises and window awnings can also help direct winds that can increase air infiltration and provide summer sun-shading to reduce air conditioning.
- Contact your local Extension Office to obtain a list of appropriate trees, shrubs, and other plant materials for your area and the appropriate location for your climate and the home's orientation on the lot.
- Use this link to read more about saving energy with landscaping.
