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landscaping and regional climate
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The energy-conserving landscape strategies you use should depend on which region you live in.
Temperate region
- Maximize warming effects of the sun in the winter.
- Maximize shade during the summer.
- Deflect winter winds away from buildings.
- Funnel summer breezes toward the home.
Hot-arid region
- Provide shade to cool roofs, walls, and windows.
- Allow summer winds to access naturally cooled homes.
- Block or deflect winds away from air-conditioned homes.
Hot-humid region
- Channel summer breezes toward the home.
- Maximize summer shade with trees that still allow penetration of low-angle winter sun.
- Avoid locating planting beds close to the home if they require frequent watering.
- Use dense windbreaks to protect the home from cold winter winds.
- Allow the winter sun to reach south-facing windows.
- shade south and west windows and walls from the direct summer sun, if summer overheating is a problem.
It's also important to consider your home's microclimate in your landscaping strategy.
Related categories
• ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Source: US Department of Energy
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Encyclopedia of Science
Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site)