Shade Trees: Cut Air Conditioning Costs
Incorporating smarter, more efficient landscape design strategies into the overall layout of your home's property can help to conserve natural resources, as well as money in your wallet. "A properly planted tree can shade a house in the summer, helping to keep it cool and save money on air conditioning," says Deborah Roberts, a Connecticut landscape designer. She recommends planting deciduous trees along the south- and west-facing sides of your house. "In the summer their leafy canopy will provide shade for your home, and in the winter the sun's rays will still be able to warm up your house." Additionally, shading an air conditioning unit with plantings can increase its efficiency by as much as 10 percent, according to the US Department of Energy. Photo courtesy of Deborah Roberts