Solar Gain | Green Construction Contractor

Study Shows Homeowners Using Landscaping to Save Energy and Water

November 15th, 2011 — Air/Water, Green Construction, Home, Landscaping

In this current day and age, where common activities among people include the tightening of wallets and the fearing of soaring energy bills, almost everyone has had to adopt some substantial practices inside and outside of their own homes. Americans are also incorporating techniques in their landscaping that are allowing them to save on water and energy, according to a national study that was recently conducted on the subject of sustainability. Conducted on the behalf of a group called ALSA, or the American Society of Landscape Architects, as many as 96% of interviewed adults have adopted some kind of energy efficient or sustainable practices around the home such as installing energy saving CFL light bulbs, turning off lights or lowering the thermostat. Of those involved in the survey, it was also determined that as many as 58 percent were also using techniques to lower energy and water costs outdoors as well, including the planting of shade trees, the harvesting of rainwater and the recycling of water for plants and landscaping.

While there is still a gap between the indoors and outdoors, this is a gap that is quickly shrinking as more homeowners become more savvy to potentially energy saving techniques and practices that can be employed not only indoors, but also outdoors, such as blocking the solar heat gain or reducing their use of water. It is truly astonishing how much things have changed in the last five years or so. There are several different ways that gardeners, architects and building professionals can save energy and water in their actions, including:

1 - Employing landscape shading -

A home should be oriented so that it can absorb heat from the sun when it is cold, and can reduce solar heat gain when it is warm. Another way to achieve this concept is through strategic landscaping, by planting deciduous trees around 20 to 30 fees from the building on the eastern, southeastern and south sides of the building to help reduce solar gain during warmer summer months. These trees lose their leaves in the winter time, allowing solar gain during colder months of the year.

2 - Erecting Wind Breaks -

Windbreaks can reduce heating costs a great deal, and the benefits they offer increase significantly as these shrubs and trees mature. You should plant evergreen windbreaks on the northern edges of your home to keep cold winds from hitting your house.

3 - Control the heat island effect.

Pavement around your home is capable of radiating heat, increasing your summer cooling load, which is known as the heat island effect. By installing ground covers in place of pavement, you can significantly reduce the solar reflectivity as well as how much heat is going into the home. A great way to accomplish this is to install a large bush or a row of shrubs to shade a patio or a driveway, or using a hedge to shade a sidewalk, and a trellis which will allow climbing vines to shield a patio.

4 - Utilize native plants in order to conserve water.

Native plants can conserve more water than other plant options because they are better adapted to your local climate. By limiting your turf area, you can significantly minimize the needs for supplemental watering, which can significantly increase how much water you have to use to keep your plants healthy. Another option is to use mulch to reduce the evaporation in your landscape, and you should water or irrigate in the early morning when the rate of evaporation is lower for the best results.

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Originally posted 2009-02-08 05:59:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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