348
Commercial property owners take note: cutting [high] energy costs starts in your front yard. Literally. Lower utility bills year-round by employing these heavy hitters:
• Shrubs and bushes planted at a building’s base insulate against winter cold and summer heat.
• Evergreens, preferably mature and planted en masse, provide protection from chilling northern winds.
• Deciduous trees offer shade from the summer sun and might even stir up a breeze; come winter, the sun can shine through the branches, free of leaves.
• Native plants, specific to your geographic region, require less maintenance to thrive, even in hot, dry climates.
Read on for more.