Cooperative Living July 2016 - 8

EnergyROI | by Tom Tate, Contributing Writer
Design
Landscaping for Energy
Efficiency and Conservation
T
rees, shrubs, and plants can be
great aids in reducing energy
consumption. And like anything
else, careful planning is needed to
maximize their benefit.
Before diving into planting for energy
conservation, you need to take into account
what works best in your climate. Delaware,
Maryland and Virginia are all in what
www.energy.gov classifies as the temperate
zone. You may disagree in the heat and
humidity of the summer, but let's take
them at their word for these purposes.
In temperate climates, your planting
objectives are to:
* Maximize the effect of the sun in the
winter (solar gain) and shade in the
summer;
* Deflect winter winds away from the
north and northwest sides of your
home with wind breaks (just like
pioneer days) and shrubs;
* Plant so as to tunnel breezes towards
your home in the summer.
Now we can get started. First of all,
consider native plants as the cornerstone
of any planting endeavor. They are already
adapted to your local climate and don't
require special attention once mature.
Using them eliminates the dangers of
introducing an invasive species. (Kudzu,
anyone?) Your local nursery will have ideas
and you can check here for more:
plantnative.org.
Starting with trees, plant them where
they will provide the right amount of shade
in the summer based on the orientation of
your home relative to the path of the sun.
Make sure you put them far enough away
from your home so that when they reach
their mature height and diameter their roots
don't threaten your foundation and their
limbs won't fall on your roof. Also, be sure
to plant them so they won't interfere with
either overhead or underground utilities
(see the article on page 8 in this issue).
Considering a windbreak to block winter
winds? Shrubs planted close to your home
can contribute to energy savings by
blocking portions of your home from the
effects of heat and cold. They can provide
6 | Cooperative Living | July 2016
CLIMATE ZONES
Your Outdoor
Space and
Save
shade in the summer and act a bit like a
snow fence in winter, trapping snow away
from your home. Planting trees in this
manner can also provide a large measure
of privacy to your property. The trees can
also mask sounds and provide habitat for a
range of animals and birds. Evergreen trees
are popular for breaks and privacy since
they retain their foliage all year.
Care in selection and placement is a
must. Be sure the mature plant will remain
at least 1 foot away from your home to
eliminate potential issues from mold and
moisture becoming trapped. Planting this
way can also create a tunnel effect that
allows wind to move around your home,
cooling and drying it.
Shrubs planted close
to your home can
contribute to energy
savings by blocking
portions of your home
from the effects of
heat and cold.
Ground covers are useful as a means of
reducing heat radiation. Rocks and mulch
next to your home may be visually appealing
but rocks especially can absorb and reradiate
heat at your home. Plan their use
with care to avoid this possibility. Living
ground covers reduce this re-radiation effect.
Vines can provide a number of benefits
in terms of shading, but be careful about
letting them grow directly on your home
itself. As they grow, moisture can become
trapped beneath their vegetation creating
mold, mildew and the potential for rot.
If you want to use vines, plant them on
a trellis. This is a perfect solution around
a patio and can be very effective adjacent
to your home. The trellis acts as a standoff
keeping the vines from damaging the house
itself and creates the tunnel effect
mentioned before.
Thoughtfully done, landscaping can
add beauty and reduce your energy bill.
What a great combination and return on
your investment!
MORE RESOURCES:
pubs.ext.vt.edu/BSE/BSE-145/BSE-145.html
pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-712/426-712.html
energy.gov/public-services/homes/landscaping 
Tom Tate writes on cooperative issues for the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington,
Virginia-based service arm of the nation's 900-plus
consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.
www.co-opliving.com
http://www.energy.gov http://www.plantnative.org http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/BSE/BSE-145/BSE-145.html http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-712/426-712.html http://www.energy.gov/public-services/homes/landscaping http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2016

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