Depending on where you live, wind may be a steady drain on your wallet. At this time of year, most people are turning their thoughts to trapping coolness in their homes, but spring is
also the time to plant, making this your best opportunity for lowering your winter bills from the outside.
Most homes are buffeted frequently by wind. Unless you are fortunate enough to live somewhere tropical, odds are you lose a considerable amount of energy every year to wind. Wind chill is the cooling of the air temperature because of wind, so it generally requires a stronger, more noticeable wind than a gentle breeze.
Use Windbreakers
Although wind chill does not lower the temperature of solid objects, like your house, it does make it so that objects cool faster than they would otherwise. Windbreakers take the brunt of the cooling from wind chill. Shrubs may be planted close to your home. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends planting trees further from your home, “at a distance from your home
of two to five times the mature height of the trees.”
Naturally, your location plays a big part in how much and where to plant the windbreakers. If you live somewhere that has winds that frequently hit over 30 miles per hour, like the plains or deserts, you probably have a much different soil type and need than somewhere that usually sees winds only up to 15 miles per hour.
Plant Sturdy Trees
If you live in a green location, you are probably best off planting sturdy trees near DOE’s prescribed distance from your home. The trees will combat the wind in the winter and provide shade in the summer, giving you a nice two for one landscaping advantage.
When Planting Shrubs Are the Best Bet
If you have tumbleweeds, then you should probably be looking into planting shrubs close to the home. Trees may require more watering than is available, meaning they could be more of a hazard as they mature because they will not be as sturdy in a strong wind.
A Combination of Short and Tall Shrubs/Trees Works Best
In most places, a combination of short and tall shrubs to trees will provide the best resistance. For example, in the northeast where there are warm summers and snowy winters, having shorter to medium sized shrubs near the house will protect against the snow, while larger shrubs and trees will stop the wind further away from the house.
For the optimal effect, keep in mind the most common direction for wind in your area (usually north/northwest) as well as the winter sun (to help warm your home) and plant in locations that play to these areas. You do not want to plant a windbreaker on the south side of your home if winds tend to come from the north, especially if you are blocking potential sunlight and warmth in the winter.
Images by David Beaulieu.
