Found a weird backyard trick that cut my electric bill by $40 a month

I live in Phoenix and my AC was running nonstop during summer. My buddy told me to plant a row of tall bushes along the west side of my house to shade the wall. I thought he was messing with me but I grabbed some $5 privacy shrubs from the nursery. Now my AC kicks on half as much and my neighbor asked if I started a hedge business. Has anyone else tried landscaping as a climate hack?

3 comments

3 Comments

wren_smith4429d ago

My neighbor in Tucson tried something similar but he planted a line of those fast-growing eucalyptus trees instead of bushes. Big mistake. Those things suck up all the water and their roots wrecked his foundation. Now his AC bill went down but he spent $2k on plumbing repairs. The trick works great with native shrubs like desert willow or creosote bush though. They don't need much water and still block that brutal afternoon sun. Just make sure whatever you plant is at least 3 feet from the house so you don't invite critters or moisture problems.

olivia_chen3526d ago

Johnson, my cousin tried eucalyptus in Phoenix and same disaster. Native shrubs are safer.

johnson.lee29d agoMost Upvoted

Did the eucalyptus roots actually crack the slab or just the pipes?