Once prevailing winds are determined, landscape planning will be a breeze. Shrubs can be used to slow wind movement and reduce the amount of warm air entering the home. The more dense and closed a shrub is, the more the wind is slowed. Mechanically cooled homes need reduced air movement to keep utility costs low. In contrast, passively cooled homes use landscape material to direct breezes into the home.
Paved surfaces absorb the sun's heat and radiate it back into the immediate environment.
Paved areas also store heat, radiating warmth long after sundown. These surfaces around the home can contribute substantially to summertime heat loads. Planting ground covers around paved areas can help to reduce these temperatures. Ground covers are low-growing plants which can be used to cover an area in the landscape. Turfgrass is undoubtedly the most commonly used ground cover.