Plants as Energy Bills Money Savers
Did you know that your garden, from carefully placed trees to drought-tolerant plants, may help you save money on your electricity bills? With energy prices on the rise, now is the time to get outside and discover how your garden might benefit…
How plants can save energy bills and money:
Conserving energy is beneficial to the environment as well as saving money when it comes time to pay one’s energy bill. It is also a huge business for businesses, as they develop new and improved ways to assist customers in achieving these goals. Planting trees, on the other hand, is a straightforward, long-term, and very affordable approach to do. Trees may greatly lower one’s energy expenditure including during the summer and winter months; the trick knows which trees to utilize and where to put them.
During the summer, trees may provide shade and reducing the demand for air conditioning, lowering the need to use power to cool the home. The potential to do so is contingent on several factors. 1) the use of large deciduous shade trees, and 2) their positioning. Deciduous trees are green trees that are full and lush in the summer but shed their leaves in the fall and winter The shade provided by these trees will assist to deflect the heat of the summer sun; however, leaf loss and winter immobility are more important for winter energy demands.
The trees must be strategically placed to get the greatest advantage. This entails tree planting on the northwest, south, and west, faces of the house in places where they will block the windows. To decrease any blockage of the view, trim the lowest branches of the trees since this will have little effect on their capacity to obstruct the sun’s rays.
Aside from planting trees in these areas, it is also helpful to plant additional trees over sidewalks, decks, and patios. Offering shade over air conditioning units will increase the machine’s effectiveness and allow it to operate colder when required. A person might easily save up to thirty percent on his or her cost by correctly planting the appropriate plants.
Winter may also harm energy costs owing to the overuse of heaters to heat one’s living space. Deciduous trees, as originally said, shed their leaves throughout the winter. This lets the winter sunshine through and heats the house. Plant evergreen plants, including ferns, to the northwest of the house. The trees will let in the warm sunshine while acting as open areas to keep out chilly winter winds. As a consequence, homeowners may save anywhere from 10% to 50% on their winter energy expenditures. Planting evergreens to the east or west should be avoided since they will obstruct the warming sun.
In the summer, this natural option gives shade, and in the winter, it gives warmth. As a consequence, it saves a large amount of energy and money when cooling during the summer and heating during the winter. Furthermore, trees assist to purify the air and may increase the price of a house.
Shade trees reduce building energy use:
Urban shade trees provide substantial benefits in terms of lowering building air conditioning demand and improving urban air quality by reducing pollution. Achieving sustainability with these advantages varies by climatic area and can amount to up to $200 per tree. We assume that a tree planted in Los Angeles prevents the combustion of 18 kg of carbon per year, although sequestering only 4.5–11 kg.
Gardening tips to reduce energy bills:
‘These gardening suggestions are a simple way we can assist reduce our energy expenses all year but enjoying and creating value to our outside area,’ says Ian Henderson, Managing Director of Boiler Plan. ‘From LED lighting to keeping our outside fridges cool in the heat, these may all assist to keep our expenses down.’
Positioning your trees correctly
Did you notice that simply placing your trees correctly may help you save up to 25% on your energy bills? According to the Boiler Plan study, having a huge tree in the yard serves as a natural windbreaker, allowing you to experience fewer draughts in the home. ‘Those same trees give much-needed shade during the summer months – it’s approximately three to six shades lighter in tree-shaded regions, making you less likely to switch on fans or climate control and save on your energy costs,’ according to Boiler Plan.
Having a high fence:
Tall fences, like trees, can serve to block wind around your property. If you’re always turning for the thermostat, this could be something to think about. While the typical fence costs approximately £1,000 to install, it may increase the value of your home by 20%.
Choose water shortage plants:
Choose drought-tolerant plants to save money on your water bill. Some perennials and bushes use less water (and regrow each year), making it an excellent choice for people looking to conserve money.
Select an electric heater:
Garden heaters are becoming increasingly popular, with Google searches growing by 192% during February and March 2021 alone. Before you start planning your next summer party, consider using an electric heater rather than a gas heater. An electric heater costs approximately 15% of what a gas heater would cost to run,’ says Boiler Plan. Of course, if you want to be green, bringing plenty of rugs and blankets outside is the most ecologically friendly method to heat up.’
Use solar or LED garden lighting:
Garden lighting will assist to set the tone by providing an ambient element to any outdoor location. Whether you’re thinking about a string of festoon lights or a beautiful fairy light curtain, LED is the way to go. They are estimated to consume 80% less energy, making them excellent for lowering utility expenses while still providing a stunning garden background. Even better, solar lights powered by the sun do not require any electricity.
Consider constructing a front porch:
A front porch, in addition to increasing house security and attractiveness, may also function as insulation surrounding your property, preventing overheating. Another advantage is that it gives additional storage for goods such as shoes, coats, bags, and jackets, freeing up room in other areas of the household.
Group your plants based on their water needs:
Search for plants that require the same amount of water as well as those that grow faster when designing your planting design. Julie Power, a Blooming Native gardening expert, discusses how clustering your plants together may help you conserve water. ‘Sowing a combination of seeds will generate a diversified procession of different species, flowering at different periods during the summer, allowing you to restrict the watering to a focused area,’ she explains. In addition, repurpose your washing machine water for flowers and plants. ‘When cleaning dishes, rinse with water first (no soap) and conserve the water; use this water to water the flowers; this is a more efficient and inexpensive usage water.’ ‘
Keep your garden refrigerator out of direct sunshine:
Are you fortunate enough to have a garden refrigerator? With many of us purchasing garden bars for the summer, keeping those beverages cold is critical. Just like interior fridges and freezers, it’s critical to keep outside ones out of direct sunlight since heat causes the fridge to work harder, spending your more money in the long run.
