Trees are designed to protect themselves from the elements of nature. We can in turn take advantage of those trees to help protect us from the same elements. Having nature around us can help to save energy in every season of the year. Planting trees and shrubs around your home will help to bring down your heating and cooling bills.
As refreshing as it is, air conditioning is an inefficient system that drains an incredible amount of energy. Planting high leaf losing (deciduous) trees in the summer to shade the house will keep your house cooler and reduce your energy consumption. Without the sun beating down on your roof you may find that a fan is all that is
needed to keep cool. If you still need to run the air conditioner you will be able to set it a few degrees higher and save energy. In the winter, the leaves will fall to allow the sunlight a direct path to your home which will help keep it warm.
Evergreen shrubs planted around the foundation of your house will act as a natural wind barrier which will save energy and lower heating costs. At the very least, plant a row on the side of your home that receives the worst of the winter winds. Planting a larger evergreen in front of those old windows to break the wind will help reduce the
heat loss as well. In the summer, it will shade the suns heat from beaming in. It is also a good way to cover up an unsightly view. You will find your heating/cooling system turning on less often.
Trees with large root systems will help to keep the moisture in your yard, which will lessen the need to water as often. Don’t pick a tree that has shallow roots because these roots will grow upwards and out the top of your lawn not only causing havoc on your lawnmower but sucking up all the moisture it can find. If your yard is unsuitable for a large tree, then a bed of shrubs with a rock garden will add to the root system keeping moisture in. They can be built into a beautiful nursery, you will be proud to show off. The less lawn you have the less need there will be to water it, which will save energy.
Trees and shrubs can be laid out to look very eye-catching and bring a feeling of peace to your home with their natural beauty. Functionally we can benefit from them by keeping our homes in a space protected from seasonal elements. Not only will you help lower the energy costs of running your home, you will also be helping to save a piece of that natural world.
