Planning your planting project

Landscaping for Energy Efficiency

We all know that landscaping adds value to our homes because of the beauty it creates, but did you know that it could also save you money? Planting shrubs and trees to shade and shelter your home can lower your energy bills by reducing heating and cooling demands.

Design your landscape to help save energy:

• Plant larger trees (7 m - 9 m) on the south and west sides of your home. Deciduous trees - ones that lose their leaves in the winter - will give the greatest benefit, supplying shade in summer while letting the sun filter in during winter. Place trees 4.5 to 6 metres from the house. Avoid planting trees directly in front of South facing windows as this will reduce solar gain in the winter.
• Plant shrubs around your home's foundation. They act as an insulating barrier, reducing heat loss.
• Vines placed on trellises along walls will help insulate walls against heat loss in winter and help shade the walls in summer.
• Planting shrubs on the east, west and south sides of your air conditioning condensers will shade the unit and reduce its workload.
• Reduce the amount of hard materials, such as concrete and asphalt, which tends to absorb heat. Drought-resistant ground covers such as junipers and sedum not only look better but also will reflect much of the heat.
• In rural areas, properly designed windbreaks will significantly reduce heating costs. Windbreaks also create a microclimate where other ornamental trees and shrubs can flourish - further adding to your energy savings!

Adding a few strategically planted trees and shrubs to your landscape can save you as much as 30 per cent on your energy bills while at the same time reducing the impact generating electricity has on the environment.