Significantly Boost Energy Savings with Landscaping Options

If you’re interested in significantly boosting the energy savings on your home, a great option is a well-designed landscaping plan. Using plants and trees to block harsh winter winds and the hot summer sun in South Carolina can save a lot of money and decrease the amount of time your heating and cooling equipment needs to run.



During the summer months, there are usually a couple of spots in a home that get hotter than others. This is because the sun beats down most frequently on those spots. The heat from the sun warms up the house and the cooling equipment will run more often to try and make up for the warm spots. This causes an increase in energy consumption. Planting a few trees a safe distance away from the home, so their shade will block the afternoon sun from hitting the house, can cool the house down. Shade is usually about 10 degrees cooler than the direct sunlight. It may take a few years for the trees to grow to a large enough size to completely block a portion of the roof, but even small trees can provide a decent amount of shade.



In the winter, cold winds can make a house’s temperature colder because of the normal gaps and leaks that a house will have near its foundation or windows and doors. Landscaping around the home with low bushes and plants will block that wind, and help insulate the home so the heat stays where it belongs. The type of plant doesn’t matter, as long as it's thick enough to absorb the chilly wind before it hits the home.



To add to the benefits that landscaping can provide your home's energy savings, you should have regular maintenance completed for your HVAC system to make sure it’s running properly. Professionals at Comfort Services can provide customers in South Carolina's Midlands with periodic checks of their heating and cooling equipment along with duct cleanings.