Strategically placed garden plants offer a low-cost way to cool homes in summer
Homeowners can lower indoor temperatures next summer by planting specific vegetation now as the fall season begins.
Vegetation reduces heat through shade and moisture
Plants create shade that stops sunlight from being absorbed by hard surfaces like roads or driveways. They also use light to convert liquid water into vapor, which dissipates energy without raising the temperature. This process keeps plant tissues and their immediate surroundings cool.
Leaf properties reflect solar radiation back
Some species reflect incoming solar radiation back into space through their specific leaf characteristics. Silver-leaved varieties such as Colorado spruce and blue fescue grass are particularly effective at this albedo effect. This prevents the energy from becoming heat that warms the home.
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