Energy Efficiency Starts at Home: How Landscaping Can Create a Greener, Healthier, Cooler Earth

Energy efficiency isn’t just about what’s inside your home – it starts outside. While high-efficiency appliances, LED lighting, and smart thermostats get most of the attention, one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) tools for saving energy is your landscape. Thoughtful outdoor design can reduce energy use, lower utility bills, and contribute to a cooler, healthier planet.

Thoughtful, sustainable landscaping does more than enhance curb appeal. It acts as a natural climate control system, helping homeowners reduce energy usage, lower utility bills, and create a more comfortable living environment. At Project EverGreen, we believe healthy green spaces are essential to healthier, more sustainable communities and your yard is a great place to start.

Here’s how your landscape can contribute to energy efficiency while supporting our mission to create a greener, healthier, cooler Earth for all.

Shade Trees That Cool Your Home and Planet

Strategically planted trees can be one of the most effective ways to reduce home energy use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, proper placement of just three shade trees can save an average household up to $250 in annual cooling costs.

Deciduous trees planted on the west and south sides of a home provide critical shade during summer months, reducing the amount of solar heat that enters windows and walls. In the winter, those same trees lose their leaves, allowing sunlight to help warm the home naturally. It’s a win-win for comfort and efficiency.

At Project EverGreen, we’ve seen firsthand how adding trees to community parks and residential properties transforms not just the temperature but the quality of life for those who live there.

Windbreaks That Lower Heating Costs

Just as trees provide shade in summer, evergreen trees and shrubs can form natural windbreaks that shield homes from harsh winter winds. Planted on the north or northwest side of a home, dense rows of evergreens can reduce wind chill and heating needs by as much as 30%.

These living barriers are a natural alternative to fencing or walls and contribute to a more biodiverse landscape, supporting pollinators and wildlife year-round.

Groundcovers That Regulate Temperature

Grass lawns, native groundcovers, and mulched garden beds are much cooler than concrete or asphalt surfaces. A healthy lawn can be 20 to 30 degrees cooler than bare soil and up to 60 degrees cooler than artificial turf or pavement.

By reducing the urban heat island effect, well-maintained green spaces not only lower surrounding air temperatures but also reduce the need for constant air conditioning. That’s especially important in densely populated neighborhoods and cities where every degree makes a difference.

Sustainable Choices, Long-Term Impact

Smart landscaping design isn’t just about planting more; it’s about planting with purpose. Native species require less water and maintenance, while smart irrigation systems and rain gardens help conserve resources and prevent runoff. When designed thoughtfully, your landscape becomes part of a larger environmental solution.

At Project EverGreen, our mission is to bring people together to create and maintain healthy green spaces in communities across the country. From public parks to backyard gardens, we’ve seen how green spaces improve air quality, reduce temperatures, and support mental and physical well-being.

Energy efficiency is just one more reason to invest in sustainable landscaping. By making intentional choices at home, you’re joining a nationwide movement to create communities that are not only more beautiful but more resilient and environmentally responsible.

Ready to Get Started?

Explore more tips for sustainable landscaping and how you can be part of the change at www.ProjectEverGreen.org. Together, we can grow a cooler, cleaner, and more energy-efficient future—one yard at a time.

About Project EverGreen
Project EverGreen is a national nonprofit organization committed to bringing people together to create and maintain healthy green spaces in communities where they’re needed most. Through our GreenCare for Troops, GreenCare for Communities, and educational initiatives, we promote the vital role that yards, parks, and public landscapes play in enhancing quality of life, supporting environmental health, and building stronger communities. As a trusted source for sustainable landscaping information and advocacy, Project EverGreen empowers homeowners, businesses, and volunteers to grow a greener, healthier, cooler Earth – one green space at a time. Learn more at www.ProjectEverGreen.org.