You will find that your electric furnace, air conditioner and water heater will make up the greatest percentage of your electric bill, so these are the areas in which to concentrate your energy management efforts. There are other things you can do as well, such as change furnace filters at least once a month, use compact fluorescent light bulbs, and make sure the coils on your refrigerator are clean so it runs more efficiently. Understanding Proper Tree Planting Procedures Trees do several things to improve your home. Not only do they keep energy costs down, they also beautify the area around the home, and in some cases, they can increase the property value of your home. When you are planting new trees around your home, there are several things that you need to keep in mind to improve the landscape, as well as maximize the energy savings you will receive from the new additions.
Evergreen trees are popular plants due to their color in the winter and their landscaping potential.
These varieties should be planted on the northern and western sides of your home so they can block the cold winter winds. It is just as important that they not be planted on the south side due to the fact that they will block the valuable winter sunshine on that side of the home. Most importantly, look up when you are planting. If there is a power line close by, consider planting something other than trees, like evergreen shrubbery or flowers. Trees growing into power lines are a big reason for the momentary blinks in your electrical service.