Spring planting could save on cooling costs

Now that some of the pollen has calmed down a little bit, getting outside and working around the house can be very enjoyable this time of year. Summer’s heat and humidity hasn’t kicked in, completely. Still, we know it’s coming. And when it does, we’ll all be cranking up the air conditioning in our homes.

But, did you know that the right landscaping could cut cooling costs by 5-10 percent? (see: Building America Best Practice Series, vol. 1, p. 26)

For South Carolina’s hot-humid climate, the goal of landscaping is to channel summer breezes toward your house and maximize summer shade while allowing the low-angle winter sun to warm your home when it’s cold. While the general climate is important, your home’s specific location can be impacted by existing landscaping and sun exposure. This is called your microclimate.

Staying Cool
To help keep your house cool in the summer, the key is shading your rooftop. Planting deciduous trees – the ones that lose their leaves in the fall – is the best choice. These trees help keep your house cool in the summer, yet allow the sun to warm you in the winter.

When considering where to plant trees, consider your home’s location and unique characteristics. To maximize energy efficiency, trees should be planted on the side of your house that receives the greatest amount of sunlight and/or the southwest and west side of your home:

• Taller trees that shade the roof are good for the south side of the house.
• Trees that grow lower to the ground should be planted on the west, to block lower afternoon sun angles.

Also note, trees planted more than 35 feet from your home are probably too far away to provide adequate shading. And, you’ll want to be sure not to plant trees below power lines so that as the tree grows, it doesn’t interfere with the lines.

Quick Safety Tip
Call Before You Dig – dial 811. Before digging holes for your new trees, make sure you won’t be digging into buried utilities. One quick phone call to have lines marked on your property can save a lot of time and money.

For more landscaping information, check out these links:

Landscaping and Energy Efficiency (Dept. of Energy)
Landscape, Plants and Lawns info (Clemson Extension)
Planting trees correctly (Clemson Extension)
Planting shrubs correctly (Clemson Extension)