#9 - Are your landscaping and personal habits minimizing your energy use?
Cover windows with insulated drapes or blinds to reduce heat transfer, making the home more comfortable in summer and winter. Open window coverings on the sunny side of the home in the winter to allow the sun to heat your home for free. In the summer, use the window coverings or leafy trees to shade your house. If possible, plant a windbreak on the north side of the home to reduce the impacts from winter winds. Plant deciduous trees to prevent sunlight from hitting the house in the summer to reduce the cooling load.
