Energy-saving landscaping practices can be a powerful tool for lowering household bills.
Saving on Household Expenses in and Outside the Home
Deciduous trees not only provide great shade in the summer but also add stunning displays of color in the fall!
There are dozens of traditional ways for homeowners to reduce utility costs, – from switching to LED light bulbs in the house, installing double-pane windows, insulating attics, and much more. However, energy-efficient upgrades aren’t limited to just the house itself. That’s why Heinen has compiled a list of smart landscaping practices to help homeowners save outside the home as well!
Shade Plants for Summer
Strategically planted trees can help shade a home from harsh summer rays by creating a naturally cool microclimate, much like the temperature difference between a car parked in the sun versus one parked in the shade. The difference natural shade can make can be dramatic! Minimizing the amount of direct sunlight that falls on a home is a natural and highly effective way to take the strain off air-conditioning units and reduce summer’s high energy costs.
The variety of trees and their placement also plays into the equation. Deciduous trees, such as elms, oaks, maples, crabapples, and dogwoods, are some of the best choices. Their full leafy foliage can block up to 90% of the sun’s rays in the spring and summer, and after the leaves shed in the fall, they allow winter sunlight to warm the house.
Pro tip: Use trees, shrubs, or thoughtfully placed vine and trellis configurations around outdoor air-conditioning units so they are shaded, too. AC units work more efficiently and use less energy when protected from direct sunlight. However, ensure that shade features are not placed too close to the unit, as they may impede airflow.
Windbreakers for Winter
Evergreen varieties that maintain foliage year-round are excellent for creating winter windbreaks.
Dense shrubs and thick stands of evergreen trees create natural windbreaks that can help reduce heating costs during the colder months. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends placing such windbreaks on the north or northwest sides of a home and at a distance of 2–5 times the mature height of the plantings.
Windbreaks can lower heating costs by as much as 25%. A properly designed windbreak helps lower the wind chill as the winter air moves around the house, reducing the amount of heat lost through windows and walls. The plantings will also help prevent blowing snow from building up around the foundation, driveways, paths, and sidewalks.
Groundcover + Native Plants
Along with trees and shrubs, smaller landscape plantings can also assist in reducing energy costs.
- Groundcover – Groundcover plantings help reflect the sun’s rays and keep soil cooler around a home’s foundation – ultimately keeping the home cooler.
- Native Plants – Most native plants in Missouri and Kansas are naturally adapted to hot summers and dry conditions, making them drought-tolerant and less dependent on frequent watering. Utilizing these plants in landscaping can save on water and maintenance time.
Heinen’s free Online Plant Catalog is a great place to research which plants will work best for upgrading your landscaping to boost your home’s efficiency. Each planting is hand-selected for the Kansas City climate and includes helpful information such as sun preference and mature size.
Smart Irrigation
The Rachio 3 Irrigation Controller has a handy mobile app that can access your irrigation system from anywhere – even while away on vacation!
The EPA estimates that up to 60% of a home’s water usage goes to landscape irrigation, and as much as 50% of that is wasted through inefficient watering practices. The best way to ensure turf and landscaping receive the exact right amount of water is with a high-efficiency sprinkler system.
High-efficiency sprinkler systems use a combination of innovative irrigation components and advanced programming to significantly reduce the amount of water wasted during each watering session. From low-precipitation sprinkler heads that precisely deliver irrigation, to Wi-Fi-enabled controllers that monitor real-time local weather conditions through the National Weather Services and adjust water sessions based on recent rainfall (or lack thereof), smart irrigation systems are a simple way for homeowners to save money on monthly water bills.
Permeable Pavers
Paved areas around the home, like driveways and sidewalks, are a magnet for heat during the summer. They soak up the sun during the day and release that heat well into the evening, raising the temperature of the air around the home. In dense residential areas, this is called the urban heat island effect. It’s the intense heat felt when walking across a large parking lot on a scorching summer day — which happens on a smaller scale for the paved areas around a home.
Blu 60 Smooth Slab Permeable Pavers from Techo-Bloc reflect heat and allow a cooler environment.
Light-colored permeable pavers can help counteract this. The lighter hues reflect sunlight and absorb less heat during the day. The spaces between the pavers allow water and airflow to reach the layers of gravel and soil below to cool the space even further. The less heat that accumulates outside a home, the more efficiently air conditioners run – which ultimately saves on electric utility bills.
Proper Drainage
It’s common sense that rainwater should be directed away from your home’s foundation and, as it egresses through your property toward storm drains, that it avoids erosion. But it’s less well known that proper drainage can also improve energy efficiency.
When water is allowed to accumulate near the foundation of the home, the structure is put at risk of costly damage and higher energy costs. Here are a few advantages of proper drainage:
- Avoids long-term foundation damage and an increased need for repairs and remediation.
- Dry soil is more temperature-stable and insulates more effectively.
- Creates less moisture exposure to HVAC systems located in the basement, extending their lifetime.
- Less infiltration of water into basement spaces minimizes the workload of a sump pump, saving energy.
Proper landscape drainage also benefits lawns and gardens by drawing water where more hydration is needed and directing excess away from low spots or problem areas. Drainage solutions can be designed to support a property’s watering needs efficiently while remaining discreetly hidden or made more visually appealing.
