Natural gas prices are at an all-time high. In May of 2021, the average price of natural gas in Northern Illinois was 53 cents per therm. By May 2022, that price had risen to 111 cents per therm. This is a 109% increase. ComEd recently proposed a 199-million-dollar rate increase for 2023. We depend upon natural gas to heat our homes, electricity to run our appliances, and our utility bills continue to escalate. Up until this year, if I was cold in the winter, I would simply go to the thermostat and turn it up. Frankly, the fear of an obscenely high natural gas bill forced me to change my ways. I kept our thermostat set low, closed off rooms that are not in use and dressed in layers. Soon the high outdoor temperatures will force us to turn on our air conditioner. Thankfully the trees that surround our home keep it naturally cool resulting in a significant reduction in our electricity bills during the summer. I would much rather go out to eat or travel then pay a utility company.
Energy efficient landscaping is the practice of taking considering the placement of the home on the lot and the environmental conditions throughout the year. This type of landscaping can change the climate around a home and help lower heat loss in the winter. Plants placed accurately substantially decrease the velocity of the wind onto the home. Evaluating the site and adding specific plants for a designated purpose will not only improve the curb appeal of a home but it can also result in a more environmentally friendly way to heat and cool our homes. Planting shrubs and trees is a proven way to lower utility bills. This column is dedicated to helping you do just that! I hope you find it informative and useful.
Strategically placing shrubs and trees in your yard can result in up to a 25% savings on your energy bills. Protecting your home from cold winds in the winter can help to significantly reduce the usage of your furnace. Trees can act as a barrier and protect our home from cold winds in the fall, winter, and early spring. These winds often originate from the northwest. Creating a wind break with trees or shrubs on this portion of your home should reduce the amount of cold air that seeps in as well as warm air that escapes from your home. Deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees can be used to create a windbreak. Depending on the size of your yard, you may be able to create a planting area that includes a mix of deciduous and evergreen plants.
Planting shrubs around the perimeter of your home assists in the insulation of your home year-round. Before planting make sure to check out the mature height and width of the plants. This will insure that proper spacing is allowed during planting.
During the summer, east and west sides of the home often receive a lot of sunlight. Planting trees on those sides can help to shade not only the windows but also the home itself. It is especially important to create some shade for your home (and yourself) on the west side due to the sun’s intensity in the afternoon. Make sure to site the tree properly according to its mature height and width. It is estimated that deciduous trees block 60-90 percent of the sun’s rays. Groundcover plants can cool the soil thereby reducing the radiant heat and should be considered when designing an energy efficient landscaping.
Landscaping around an air conditioning unit is a balancing act. Creating shade for your air conditioning unit can improve its efficiency however you don’t want to reduce the air flow around the unit. Many homeowners also want to try to block the view from the street to the air condition. Positioning plants carefully can help reduce the sun and still maintain air flow around the unit.
Plant species that may be appropriate for energy efficient landscaping include: maple, spruce, honeylocust, weigela, lilac, forsythia, juniper, arborvitae, dogwood, barberry, cotoneaster, diervilla, burning bush, hydrangea, euonymus crabtrees and ninebark. These species contain many varieties with varying mature height and widths. Make sure to do your research and take this information into consideration when planning your energy efficient landscaping project. Done well, landscaping has the potential to not only look good, but also save you money.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
