"Low-income homeowners pay a disproportionately high percentage of their income for utilities?as much as 20 to 30 percent…(habitat.com). With proper plant choice and placement this number can be drastically lowered.
The sun is most intense in the later part of the day. Windows or sliding doors that face the west take the brunt of this heat and therefore can cause a greenhouse effect. Sunlight that is let in is trapped inside causing the air conditioner to work harder and use more energy. In the winter, this may be an ideal situation but in the summer it is undesirable. If a deciduous tree is planted on the west side of the house it would provide proper shade during the warmer months. This would result in a lower cooling bill.
Likewise, during the colder months a deciduous tree would be without leaves and would allow sunlight to easily enter the house. This would aid in the heating process and therefore produce a lower heating bill.
Habitat houses are increasingly being built with energy efficiency in
mind. All kinds of materials are being used; including highly cost efficient
products, recycled products, and even solar panels. Any little bit that
landscaping can add to this cause is praised and recommended.
The Scarlet Oak is a good choice for the west side of a house. It has very good foliage and a beautiful fall color. It grows very fast but the wood remains strong (Halfacre). A few more plants that can be used in this situation are: Eastern Red Oak, American Linden, Japanese Zelkova, Red Maple, Tulip Tree, or Sawtooth Oak.
This photo shows several different
hydrozones being used to make
this landscape aesthetically pleasing.
Another utility cost that can be lowered is the water bill. Proper placement of plants and shrubs, aided by proper watering and maintenance, can help to reduce the amount of water used. The first issue at hand is run-off. If the landscape is sloping in any direction water tends to collect in these areas. A way to profit from this situation is to plant plants that require a lot of water. You could plant a nice annual garden or a water-loving tree, such as a River Birch, in these areas.
A proper irrigation system could be useful in saving you money on your water bill. You want to find a system that uses only the amount of water that is needed in each area. "Drip systems, soaker hoses, and subsurface systems have a low profile in the landscape…and they use much less water than conventional irrigation systems" (Xeriscape). Imagine the money you could save if you used an efficient irrigation system over the leaky hose and sprinkler you’ve got right now.
Mulching part of your landscape will cut down on maintenance and it can save water. Mulching out to the drip line of a tree keeps weeds from growing and it holds water in well, so you don’t have to water as often. Mulching is a little labor intensive but it will save you money and it adds to the aesthetic value of the landscape.
Last, but certainly not least, is proper plant grouping. You want to group plants together that require similar amounts of water. It would be advisable to have several different "hydrozones" in your landscape. Hydrozones are "…areas within a design that receive either low, moderate, or high amounts of water. All plants within a zone have the same water requirements and can be watered as a group"(Xeriscape). When considering different hydrozones you want to think about that amount of sun the area gets, how good the soil is, and how the land drains.
Sources
Kelly, John, et al. Xeriscape: Water Conservation in the Southeast. Clemson, SC: Cooperative Extension Service. 1991.
Booth, Norman K. Basic Elements of Landscape Architectural Design. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc. 1983.
Stobaugh, Robert and Yergin, Daniel. "World Energy Supply." Microsoft Encarta. 1998 ed.
Habitat for Humanity International. 1999. Internet. http://www.habitat.org/.