energy wise
Landscaping for Better Energy Savings The right tree in the right place can make a difference on your bill
coming up in Kiamichi Country
April 1
Southeast Oklahoma Wildlife Festival Southeast Expo Center, McAlester
April 5 Easter Egg Hunt Robber's Cave State Park, Wilburton
April 8 Women's Expo
Southeast Oklahoma Expo, McAlester
Talihina Indian Festival & Powwow Talihina School Gym, Tahlihina
Mountain Gate Poker Run 201 1st Street, Talihina
An Evening at the Gallery 105 Reynolds Avenue, Poteau
April 11 Trash Off Day Robber's Cave State Park, Wilburton
April 18 Green Frog Festival Main Street, Wilburton
April 22 Vike Hike 5K Carl Albert State College, Poteau
May 6
Explore the Outdoors - A Day in the Park Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton
May 13-14 Italian Festival Southeast Expo Center, McAlester
May 26-27 Poteau Pioneer & Steampunk Festival 310 Dewey Ave, Poteau
May 27 150th
Celebration Historic Choate Cabin Indianola, Oklahoma
f you’re making changes to your landscape, remember that a few well-positioned trees and bushes could also improve your energy bill. The best strategies for improving the energy efficiency of your home with landscaping are to incorporate shade in the summer and wind blocking in the winter.
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To increase shade on your home, plant deciduous trees on the south, southwest and west sides of your home to cut heat during the summer while allowing sunlight through during the fall and winter. When planting trees, consider the expected shape and height of the mature trees and where they will shade your home. A tree with a high mature height planted on the south side of a home, for example, will provide all-day roof shading in the summer, while a lower tree on the west side of your home can protect your home from the lower afternoon sun.
Remember that it may be five to 10 years before a new tree will shade your roof, but it will start shading windows immediately. In the meantime, add shrubs and vines to provide near-term shade.
If your driveway bakes in the sun, that absorbed heat is also reflecting onto your home, causing your AC to work harder. Use trees, hedges and structures such as arbors to shade paved areas.
If your home is out in the open, consider adding a windbreak to help block winter winds. The most common type of windbreak uses a combination of evergreen trees and shrubs to block wind from the ground to the top of your home. Plant evergreen shrubs and other trees on the north and northwest sides of your home at a distance of between two and five times the height of the mature trees. Another insulating trick is to plant shrubs and bushes about one foot away from your home. The space between the plants and your home is dead air space that helps insulate your home during winter and summer months.
A final tip: Remember to plant tall trees at least 20 to 30 feet from power lines.
For more energy saving ideas, please visit
www.kiamichielectric.org. To schedule a free home energy audit or visit with KEC's energy use specialist, please call 800-888-2731.
6 | march - april 2017 | Light Post
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