Yeşil Peyzaj Nasıl Çalışır?

Artan enerji fiyatlarına karşı mücadele etmenin bir yolunu mu arıyorsunuz? Küresel iklim değişikliği veya çevreyi koruma konusunda endişeleriniz mi var? O zaman yeşil peyzajın faydalarını düşünmek isteyebilirsiniz.

Yeşil peyzaj, bazı geleneksel peyzaj uygulamalarıyla ilişkili tehlikeli kimyasalları ve zararlı teknikleri kullanmadan çiminizin veya bahçenizin estetik kalitesine odaklanmanıza izin veren alternatif bir peyzaj yöntemidir. Yeşil peyzaj, yalnızca çimlerinizi şekillendirmek için yenilikçi yöntemler sağlamakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda evinizin içini ısıtmak ve soğutmak için harcanan enerji ve paradan tasarruf sağladığı kanıtlanmıştır.

Yeşil peyzajı düşünmeden önce, birkaç noktayı göz önünde bulundurmalısınız. Öncelikle, içinde yaşadığınız iklimi hesaba katmalısınız. Kurak iklimler, peyzaj için mevcut bitki ömrünü kısıtlayacak ve kurnaz sulama sistemleri gerektirecektir. Öte yandan, daha ılıman iklimler daha geniş çeşitlilikteki bitki yaşamını destekleyebilecektir. İkincisi, yaşadığınız bölge de benzer şekilde seçebileceğiniz bitki yaşamını belirleyecektir. Dağlık bölgeler, yüksek rakımda ve kayalık toprakta gelişebilen ve büyüyebilen bitkiler talep edecektir. Tersine, bataklık bölgeler, su-ağır topraklara dayanabilen bitkilere ihtiyaç duyacaktır. Yaşadığınız iklim veya bölge ne olursa olsun, yeşil peyzajın ayrılmaz bir parçası yerli bitkilerin kullanılmasıdır.

Yeşil peyzaj çeşitli yöntemlerle hayata geçirilebilse de, oldukça pratik olan beş temel teknik vardır. Bu beş tekniğin her biri, ısıtma ve soğutma faturalarından tasarruf etmenize, enerji tasarrufu yapmanıza ve her şeyi kendiniz planlamanıza yardımcı olacaktır. Bu yöntemler şunları içerir:

Yatay gölgelemenin ne anlama geldiği hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmek için sonraki sayfaya tıklayın.

1. Manzara Gölgelendirme
2. Peyzaj Rüzgarlıkları
3. Yeşil Malzemelerle Peyzaj
4. Peyzaj ile Kar Kontrolü
5. Güneş Enerjisi ile Peyzaj

En kolay yeşil peyzaj tekniklerinden biri, bir ağaç dikmek kadar basittir. Gölgeleme olarak bilinen teknik , ılık yaz güneşinden gölge sağlamak için bir ağacın stratejik olarak yerleştirilmesidir. Güneş ışınlarının engellenmemiş güneş ısısı, evinizin içindeki sıcaklığı önemli ölçüde artırabilir ve bu da klimanızın üzerindeki yükü artıracaktır. Bununla birlikte, bir ağacın uygun şekilde yerleştirilmesi, su buharı buharlaşması ve terlemenin yanı sıra ağacın sağladığı gölge yoluyla sıcaklıkları 9 Fahrenheit (12 santigrat derece) kadar azaltabilir [kaynak: ABD Enerji Bakanlığı ].

Evinizi soğutmak için gölgeleme kullanırken, projeniz için doğru ağacı seçmeniz önemlidir. Öncelikle yaz aylarında sıcaklığı düşük tutacak bir ağaç arıyorsanız mutlaka yaprak döken bir ağaç seçin. Yaz aylarında yaprak döken ağaçların yaprakları evinizi güneşin sıcaklığından koruyacak; kışın soğuğunda yapraklar ağaçtan düşer ve güneş ışığının evinizi sıcak tutmasına izin verir.

Gölgelemenin etkinliğini etkileyecek diğer önemli hususlar ağaç boyutu, gölge boyutu ve büyüme hızıdır. Açıkçası, ağaç ne kadar büyükse, muhtemelen o kadar fazla gölge sağlayacaktır. Ancak, oluşturacağı gölgenin boyutunu ve şeklini de hesaba katmak önemlidir. Uzun, yatay dalları olan ağaçlar, evinizin mimarisine daha uygun olabilecek daha geniş gölgeler yaratacaktır. Benzer şekilde, yüksek taçlara sahip ağaçlar, gölgelerinin büyük bir kısmını ağacın tabanından uzaklaştıracaktır - bu nedenle, sonuçları en üst düzeye çıkarmak için gölgeleme ağacınızı buna göre diktiğinizden emin olun. Son olarak, daha yavaş büyüme oranına sahip bir ağaç seçmek genellikle faydalıdır. Geniş bir alanı gölgeleyecek kadar büyümesi için daha uzun süre beklemeniz gerekse de,ABD Enerji Bakanlığı ].

Peyzaj rüzgar perdelerinin neler yapabileceğini görmek için sonraki sayfaya tıklayın.

Daha Azla Yeşil Olun

Çevre Koruma Ajansı'nın GreenScapes programı, çevre üzerinde olumsuz bir etki yaratmadan çimlerinize bakmak için ipuçları, kaynaklar ve uygun maliyetli yöntemler sağlayarak işletmelerin ve ev sahiplerinin yeşil peyzaj tekniklerine uyum sağlamasına yardımcı olur [kaynak: EPA ].

In addition to shading, using landscaping windbreaks is another simple yet effective way to use landscaping to lower your heating and cooling costs. In the cold months of the year, windbreaks can lower the wind chill outside of your home and help to prevent frigid drafts of wind from gusting into your house. Breaking up those wind gusts and halting the affects of wind chill can drastically increase the temperature around your home, depending on the strength of the winds [source: U.S. Department of Energy].

The ideal windbreak is composed of both large evergreen trees and evergreen plants with lower crowns, such as bushes or shrubs. Combined with a low wall or fence, evergreens with a foliage density around 60% can deflect heavy winds up and over your home. Trees and shrubs with lower densities may not be enough to avert winds, while those with heavier densities will likely suck the wind stream back down into your home. To best deter the cold gusts, plant your shrubs and trees in a varied mixture [source: U.S. Department of Energy].

Another helpful tip to add further insulation from winds is to plant shrubs, bushes, vines and other low lying plants near the perimeter of your home. In addition to having the larger windbreaks a distance from your home, the extra plants closer to your home will create a dead air space between your home and the icy winter -- trapping any heat that may escape your home. Better yet, during the summer months, this added insulation will also trap any cool air that may escape your home, as well as any cool breezes that are frequent on summer evenings.

Though you might think all of landscaping is "going green," read on to find out what it really means to landscape with green materials.

Let It Grow

Americans spend around 3 billion hours a year caring for their yards with lawn and garden equipment, much of it gas powered. That means around 720 million gallons (3,722 million liters) of gas a year -- in addition to the pollutants -- is discharged into the air. With energy costs and global warming on the rise it's important to ask yourself if the perfectly manicured lawn is really worth it [source: McMullen].

As you read on the previous pages, landscape shading and landscaping windbreaks are both methods of landscaping that you can use to help reduce your energy bills because of the effect they have on the inside of your house. In addition to these internally-effective techniques, landscaping ­with eco-friendly materials has many direct external effects for your land.

The most common landscaping material needs are concrete, bricks, stone, wood, wood chips and mulch. There are ways to make sure these materials pass the "green test," so don't grab just any traditional materials you see in a store.

Standard concrete is not good for the environment because of its carbon-dioxide heavy manufacturing process. If concrete is an essential material to your landscaping needs, you should consider broken, reused concrete or concrete pavers. Recycled glass pavers also serve the same function but release fewer greenhouse gasses during production [source: Green Your].

Bricks from the U.S. are made in natural gas kilns, rather than pollution-heavy wood-fired kilns. Adobe and terra-cotta bricks are greener than normal bricks because they do not require any kilns. In regards to stone, companies who take stones from quarries near bodies of water are the least eco-friendly. Seek out a company who finds their stones inland, or better yet, look in your own soil for rocks.

In order to avoid toxins, it is best to avoid treated lumber products, but if you must use wood, look for ammonium copper quaternary treated wood. With wood chips and bark mulch, make sure to avoid artificially dyed mulch and rubber mulch [source: Green Your].

So all that new foliage can make a difference in the summer -- but what about the winter? Read on to discover how to control snow with green landscaping

Go Green Gadget

When you are searching for these green materials, you can rest assured knowing their benefits. For example, water-porous products recycle water directly into the land, rather than let rainwater flow directly to the street drainage system. Forest Stewardship Council-approved wood products ensure that your wood did not contribute to deforestation or harm of old-growth forests. Imitation lumber made from recycled plastic reduces the trash mound [source: Green Your].

While many green landscaping methods seemingly focus on the elements in the air and sky, like wind and sunlight, eco-minded landscapers haven't neglected the ground either. In addition to better utilizing rainwater, runoff and snowmelt, controlling drifting snow is yet another way to conserve energy with your lawn. In addition to saving you money on your heating costs during the winter, growing natural snow fences can also prevent snow drifts from accumulating on roads and driveways, provide better drainage when the snow melts and reducing soil erosion [source: Josiah & Majeski].

When designing natural snow fences, using denser coniferous trees is recommended as­ they will best block snow from drifting. Besides density, another important aspect of natural snow fences is the height of the trees. As snow accumulates on one side of the fence, smaller trees may fail to prevent snow from the top of the mound from traveling over their peak. Larger trees, even if slightly less dense, are better suited to hold off snow drifts for the duration of the winter.

Finally, you will want to gauge how wide you need your snow fence to be based on the amount of area you are aiming to protect, as well as the estimated amount of snowfall typically received in your region. Similarly, you'll want to plan the distance between your natural snow fence and the area you're protecting based on how formidable your fence is. It's always a good idea to give a bit of distance between the protected area and the snow fence, as some snow will inevitably push through and create a smaller drift on the other side.

To read about how you can harness solar power for landscape lighting, click to the next page.

Go Native

When choosing the trees, shrubs and bushes for your landscaping projects, be sure to include many native species. Native plants require less maintenance and water because they are already adapted to the local environment. Native plants also attract native animals and insects instead of invasive pests that may carry damaging diseases [source: Swanson].

Outdoor lighting is sometimes one of the last aspects of landscaping you will take into account when planning your lawn or garden, especially if you tend to go outside during daylight hours. But if you happen to host a lot of lawn and patio parties or if you have treacherous steps that need good lighting in the evening, you will need to think about outdoor lights. Rather than purchase numerous electrical-related components for lighting, consider the benefits of solar-powered lights.

A solar-powered lighting system has many advantages to traditional electrically-powered lighting. First, to fit with the green theme, solar-powered lights do not draw on electricity and therefore conserve the earth's resources. Second, solar power is much easier to install in your lawn than electric lights. You won't have to plan for extension cords, electrical sockets or underground wiring. Third, solar power is kinder to your budget. Solar-powered lighting is definitely cost-effective, as it won't increase your electricity bill.

All you need to purchase is the solar light with solar collection panels and its post. Solar-powered lights still come in many of the shapes and sizes as electrically-powered lights, so this means you don't have to worry about the aesthetic of your lighting. If you want floodlights, tiered lampposts or any other style, you should be able to find it as a solar-powered light [Source: Savvy Cafe].

Now you are equipped with the basic knowledge of how green landscaping works. So go do your part and spread the green word to your neighbors.

Clean up your Carbon Footprint

­Remember to acquire all your eco-friendly garden and lawn materials from local businesses and stores. If the company ships its materials in from across the country, that increases your carbon footprint. The fewer the miles your purchase traveled to reach you at the store, the less gas the company used to obtain it, which means your carbon footprint shrinks, too!

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