Sustainable Sources 1994-2001. Ideally, the energy conserving landscape is also a water conserving landscape.
Landscaping can reduce direct sun from striking and heating up building surfaces.
It can prevent reflected light carrying heat into a house from the ground or other surfaces. By reducing wind velocity, an energy conserving landscape slows air leakage in a house. Additionally, the shade created by trees and the effect of grass and shrubs will reduce air temperatures adjoining the house and provide evaporative cooling. The use of dense tree and shrub plantings on the west and northwest sides of a home will block the summer setting sun. This is the most effective landscape planting strategy.