Proven Ways to Save $100's on Your Heating Bill That 95% of Us Are Not Aware Of!

Winter is here! It's cold and if you are up north by where I live in Milwaukee the snow is blowing and it has already gotten below 0. And our heating bills are rising. Fortunately there are a lot of things we can do to reduce our energy consumption both now and in the summer when it is hot and we are spending our money on air conditioning bills. Most of us have already invested lot in energy efficiency from energy efficient windows, furnaces, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc.; the list goes on and on. However there is still one thing you can do to even further significantly reduce your energy efficiency in a serious way and it is something that most of us are not aware of and have never thought of.

Studies conducted show that strategic landscaping around its exterior can provide savings of up to 30 percent on heating costs and between 50 and 75 percent on air conditioning. The basic idea behind energy-efficient landscaping is to plant deciduous trees to block the summer sun and evergreen trees to block winter winds. Closely spaced evergreens with dense foliage all the way to the ground, such as blue spruce, make the best windblocks. In Wisconsin we have very strong Westerly winds that howl at speeds of excess of sometimes more than 50 mph. A windblock can cut wind velocity up to 80 percent, which can mean real savings on your heating bill. Protection from the hot sun on the roof and east/west sides of a home by landscaping with Shade Trees creates a significant cooling effect on the home.

Plant trees with a higher crown nearer to the house (but not on top of it) so it can shade the roof and trees with a lower canopy are useful to block the afternoon blinding sun as it sets on the west side of a home. Also by shading your air condition unit you can reclaim up to 10% more energy efficiency. One other thing to consider is that planting shrubs and bushes next to the home will help to insulate your home year round. To be most effective, a landscape plan should be tailored to your climate.