How to Save Money with Smart Landscaping

Attractive landscaping can increase the value of your home and lower your utility bills by making your HVAC system more efficient. It can also make spending time in your backyard during the hot Stuart, Florida, summer much more pleasant. Since they are larger and easier to care for, keep the mature plants that are already in your garden. Your outdoor HVAC unit needs 2 or 3 feet of space around it to work efficiently, so don’t plant anything too close to it. Here are some more helpful tips on saving money with smart landscaping.

Add Shade

If your air conditioning unit gets too hot, it will have to work harder. Over time, this will shorten its life and make breakdowns more likely. Adding shade makes your home cooler and your system more efficient. Plant trees strategically around your home to focus on the areas that receive the most sunlight.

The type of tree can make a big difference. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter, so the sun can still help with heating your home. Plant climbing vines on a trellis. They look great near porches, patios, and your outdoor unit.

Create Windbreaks

Windbreaks around the edges of your yard provide privacy while blocking cold winter winds. Plant two to three rows of dense evergreen trees or shrubs in a staggered pattern for the best results. If you don’t want to wait for plants to grow, build a tall fence instead. Grass and shrubs near walls can also insulate your home in winter and summer.

Minimize Paving

Paved areas absorb heat from the sun, making the areas around them warmer and your cooling bills higher in the summer. To reduce this effect, make paved areas such as driveways as small as possible. Avoid dark materials like asphalt, which absorb more heat. Porous or permeable pavement stays cooler because it lets rainwater reach the ground.

Preferred Air Conditioning & Mechanical, LLC has 25 years of experience providing reliable HVAC service to the Palm County region. We can help you install, maintain, and repair an energy-efficient HVAC system. Call us at (772) 905-3358 for expert service and advice on smart landscaping.

Image provided by Shutterstock