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By Megan McKoy-Noe

You’ve upgraded your appliances, insulation, and lighting to help lower your monthly electric bill. What else can you do? Plenty, if you have a yard with landscaping options. The right combination of plants and trees can unearth hidden energy savings.

Climate determines the direction your landscaping planning should take. The United States is divided into four different types of regions: temperate, hot-arid, hot-humid, and cool.

Folks living in the temperate band across the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast parts of the nation should maximize the warmth of winter sun. Likewise, summer shade should be prized. Winter winds should be deflected from buildings, while summer breezes need to be brought toward a home.

In hot-arid regions of the Southwest, shade over roofs, walls, and windows is a must. Homeowners without air conditioning should encourage summer breezes to swing by. Those with conditioned air should try to block or deflect winds.

            The Southeast and Hawaii offer a hot and humid climate, so summer breezes are welcome. Residents in these areas should make the most of summer shade, but use trees that will eventually lose leafs (deciduous) to let winter sun shine through.

Finally, folks in northern cool zones need to use dense windbreaks to protect homes from harsh winter winds. Winter sun should be able to reach south-facing windows. But take care to shade south and west windows and walls from direct summer sun if overheating is a problem.

Ready, Set, GROW!

Find out more about your climate, microclimates, shading dos and don’ts, and windbreaks at www.energysavers.gov. To learn more ways to save energy around your home, visit www.TogetherweSave.com.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Megan McKoy-Noe writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.