Energy-Efficient Landscaping: Regional Strategies to Cut Heating and Cooling Costs

Sitting under a shade tree cools you; standing by a wall on a windy day warms you. You can landscape your yard to give your home those same benefits with strategic placement of trees, fences, and other elements.

Key statistics:

• A well-positioned tree can save up to 25% of home heating/cooling energy.
• A tree-shaded yard can be 6°F cooler; shaded lawn 25°F cooler than pavement.
• Shading the roof boosts AC efficiency by 10%+.
• One shade tree equals 15 air conditioners—free.
• Three house-shading trees can cut cooling bills by half.
• Windbreaks reduce winter heating bills 10–30%.

Regional Strategies

Northeast: Plant deciduous trees on south/west sides for summer shade, winter sun. Add a windbreak of trees/shrubs to the north/northwest.

Midwest: Large deciduous trees on south/west for summer shade. Allow winter sun on south/west. Windbreak on north/northwest.

High Plains & Mountain West: Let winter sun reach the house for radiant heat. Windbreak on north if possible. Deciduous trees on sunny side for summer shade.

Pacific Northwest: Avoid evergreens on south/southwest; use deciduous trees for winter sun and summer shade.

South: Direct cooling breezes with fences/shrubs. Plant large evergreens on south/southwest to block sun. Use drought-tolerant plants near the house.

Southwest: Shade trees on sunniest sides. Windbreaks to block hot summer winds.

Southern California: Big shade trees on south/southwest. Windbreaks to deflect warm winds.

Landscape to Reduce Winter Heating Costs

1. Plant evergreens to block northwest winds. A windbreak protects 10x its height; dense breaks cut wind speed 85%, reducing heating bills ~25%.
2. Place plantings, walls, or berms near (not against) the house to create insulating dead air space.
3. Plant deciduous trees on the south side—they block 70–90% of summer sun but allow winter sun through bare branches. Deciduous vines work similarly but less effectively.
4. Create open lawn on the south side for snow accumulation; reflected light adds radiant heat.
5. Build a tall fence to slow winter winds. Semi-open fences are most effective; solid fences create wind tunnels.
6. Design stone/concrete surfaces (patio) to absorb daytime heat and release it at night.

Landscape to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs

1. Build a pergola, ramada, awning, or shade structure on the west side. Vine-covered pergolas allow breezes and don't trap heat.
2. Place porches, decks, patios on the east side for morning warmth, afternoon cool. Add a shade tree.
3. Choose groundcovers wisely: light stone reflects heat; dark stone/wood chips absorb; lawn/groundcover plants cool most but need water.
4. Shield south/west windows with trees. Deciduous trees block summer sun, admit winter sun.
5. Funnel breezes: plant trees on one side, a wall on the other to create a wind tunnel.
6. Add a water feature. A large pond upwind cools the whole landscape; a small fountain cools a seating area.
7. Plant a tree cluster as a low-tech air conditioner, creating a cool zone for breezes to distribute.

Small-Scale Tips

• Study sun/wind patterns around your home through seasons.
• Control sun at a window with annual vines on a trellis (sweet autumn clematis, morning glory, scarlet runner bean).
• Windbreaks: depth > height. Three rows best: low flowering trees/shrubs nearest, taller deciduous in middle, tall evergreens farthest.
• Plant windbreaks north/northwest. Keep west windbreak far enough to allow low winter sun.
• Berms boost windbreaks and channel cold winds up and over the house.