Did you know that landscaping your property can help you lower your energy consumption? It’s a natural solution that works hand in hand with today’s efficient heating and cooling systems. Here are some tips to changing up your landscaping!
Shade and insulation: Strategic placement of trees, shrubs, and other foliage can provide shade over your home, especially in front of windows, along walls, and over roofs that lots of our beautiful Okanagan sunlight. Investing in these natural products helps to reduce a home’s solar heat gain, keeping the interior cooler during hot summer months.
Windbreaks: Planting trees or tall shrubs as windbreaks can help deflect cold winds away from the house, reducing heat loss and wind chill. This is especially beneficial for homes in regions with cold climates. Windbreaks can be strategically placed on the wind-facing side of the house, creating a protective barrier. These plantings insulate your home by creating a barrier against the impact of cold winds during winter, which in turn reduces heat escaping from your walls.
Evaporative cooling: Incorporating water features, such as fountains or small ponds, on your property works to cool the surrounding air through evaporation. As the water evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air, resulting in a cooler microclimate near your home. This can indirectly reduce the cooling load on the HVAC system.
Green roofs and walls: Installing rooftop gardens and green walls (vertical gardens) can provide insulation for buildings, reducing heat transfer through the roof or walls. These vegetative systems can help regulate temperature and improve energy efficiency by acting as a natural barrier against heat gain or loss.
Permeable paving: Using porous materials, like gravel or grass pavers, for pathways, driveways, or patios can reduce the heat radiating near your home. This works to moderate ground temperatures around the house envelope. This can also help with moving water away from your home or commercial building’s foundation.
The Finishing Touch
Incorporating these landscaping tips is another way to beautify your home and also help you be more energy-efficient! Think about lower energy bills, and more sustainable living!
Contact the team at A1Kelowna today if you would like to learn more about other HVAC options that could save on energy usage and lower your costs.