As air conditioning season rolls into parts of the country that couldn't stand the cold not that long ago, home owners are ready to find new ways to save on their energy bills. Energy.gov provides a handy info...graphic with a variety of techniques that you can pass along to people who want to stay comfortable on the cheap.
Top among the site's recommendations is to landscape for shade: A landscape can reduce air conditioning costs by as much as 50 percent. Neighborhoods with plenty of trees can see daytime temperatures of 6 degrees less than treeless areas, too.
Shrubs and ground cover can cool air before it reaches the house, providing an even bigger break on bills.
Landscapes can also be designed to conserve water. Group plants with similar water requirements together, raise your lawn mower's cutting height, and water in the early morning to keep water from evaporating in the heat.
A landscape designed with these and other tips in mind can pay for itself in less than eight years, according to energy.gov. Source: "Slash Your Energy Bill With Smart Landscaping," Lifehacker.com (May 27, 2014)
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