Landscaping to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs

Maximize your air conditioner's efficiency by doing the following:

 

East-facing porches, patios, and
decks stay cooler in the afternoon
and evening hours.

1. Build a pergola, ramada (a shade shelter open on three sides), awning, or other shade-giving structure on the west side of your house. It's an attractive way to filter light during the hottest part of the day. An open structure, such as a vine-covered pergola, is ideal as it allows cool breezes through and doesn't trap heat.
2. Position porches, decks, and patios on the east side of your home. They'll become an ideal gathering spot because of their early morning warmth. And they won't be sauna-like during the late-day heat. A shade tree will keep the area even cooler.
3. Think about your ground covers. Light-colored stone or granite mulch and concrete will reflect more heat, making things hotter. Darker stone and wood chips will absorb the heat. A lawn or expanse of ground cover plants is the most cooling of all, but may require lots of water.
4. Place trees where they'll shield your windows, especially those on the south and west sides, from direct sun. Deciduous trees are a great option as they block sun during hot weather but allow sunlight to filter through during cooler weather once their branches are bare.
5. Funnel breezes through your property. Plant a row of trees on one side of the house and a wall on the other side of the house, to create a wind tunnel, for example. This will encourage stronger cooling breezes through the property and around the house.
6. A water feature is cooling both physically and psychologically. A large pond upwind will noticeably cool the air of your whole landscape. A small pond or fountain can cool a smaller area.
7. Plant a cluster of trees to act as a low-tech air conditioner for the entire property, creating a cool zone which breezes can then distribute throughout the property and around the house.