Sustainability comes in many forms – for example, swapping out your home appliances for more energy-efficient versions or taking shorter showers are some common methods people employ. But did you know that you can also look outside of your home for ways to promote energy conservation?

For example, many people already have a garden on their property. In the first place, growing your own produce means contributing less to the emissions caused by transporting non-local goods to local grocers. Plus, every little bit of greenery helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through photosynthesis. The benefits don’t have to stop there though – read on below to learn more about how you can promote water and energy conservation in your garden and also save on your monthly utility bills.

1. Plant Large Shade Providing Trees
If you find yourself spending a lot on cooling, planting some trees around your property can help reduce that spending. As common-sense dictates, shady areas are cooler than sunny ones. By reducing the amount of sunlight reaching your home, you won’t have to crank up your air conditioning so much.

2. Create Windbreaks on Your Property
This is a similar concept to planting trees for shade. Except, rather than aiming for creating shade, you’re aiming to plant trees and shrubs in such a way that cold fall or winter wind has less of an impact on your home and its heating requirements.

3. Make Early Morning Watering a Habit
Watering your plants and lawn early in the morning gives your greenery a chance to soak in necessary water – any excess will then be evaporated as the day gets warmer. If you water in the middle of the day, the water will evaporate too quickly for your plants to get the full benefit and you’ll need to re-water to keep your lawn happy. And, if you water at night, excess water can linger, causing root rot, increased weed growth and increased fungal growth.

4. Use Plenty of Mulch
Mulch can help slow how quickly water evaporates from your garden’s soil, meaning you can cut down on the amount of water you need to use. As a bonus, mulch can also slow weed growth and improve soil quality.

5. Install Solar Powered Garden Lights
Solar energy is typically available year-round, even in the winter. While the cost of solar-powered garden lights can be more expensive than regular LED units, over time, you can save on energy costs.

6. Collect Rainwater in Containers
While this is a common tip, it’s still a good one. When it rains out, leave out large, empty containers to collect water that you can use for watering your plants at a later time. Be sure to keep these containers covered – otherwise, you could begin to see swarms of mosquitoes near your home.

7. Install a Rain Sensor
Many individuals have sprinklers installed to water their gardens and lawn at a set time every day. To avoid overwatering your plants when it happens to rain (and also save a little bit on your water bill), you can install a rain sensor which will shut off your sprinklers when there’s a downpour happening.

8. Use an Electric Lawn Mower Rather Than a Gas Lawn Mower
Another way to contribute to energy savings is to use an electric lawn mower rather than a gas one when possible – electric-powered lawn mowers tend to be more energy efficient. Plus, they also tend to release fewer emissions than gas-powered ones.

9. Install Thermal Heat Curtains for Your Greenhouse
If you happen to have a small greenhouse on your property, installing thermal heat curtains helps retain heat while lessening the amount of energy that needs to be used to maintain the temperature of your greenhouse.

10. Repurpose Grey Water for Watering Your Garden
Grey water refers to water from your baths, showers, sink and laundry water. Essentially, it’s any used water from your household excluding water from your toilets. Using grey water can help especially reduce water usage during the hotter months. Do note, however, that you should only use grey water to water non-edible plants or your lawn. It’s best to use clean or non-repurposed water for your fruit and vegetable plots.

How to Build A Water and Energy Efficient Garden? by Maria Kossman & Team | EnergyRates.ca