Photography: Jenifer McNeil Baker
Landscape: The Ground Up
Builder: The Ed Jarrett Company
Believe it or not, landscaping also affects your energy bill savings. According to a Cornell University study, a well-planned landscape designed for energy efficiency can reduce heating and air conditioning costs. For example, Grass is much cooler than asphalt or cement. It acts as an “air conditioner” for the surrounding area. As Love Your Landscape explains, “lawns can be 31 degrees cooler than asphalt and 20 degrees cooler than bare soil. Moreover, trees shading homes can reduce attic temperatures by as much as 40 degrees.”
If you’re still on the fence, you may consider exploring landscaping options as grasses absorb carbon dioxide and break it down into oxygen and carbon. As Love Your Landscape explains, “a 50’x50’ lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four. Lawns and plants dramatically reduce noise pollution; they can reduce noise levels by 20 percent to 30 percent over hard surfaces like concrete and pavement!”