BEAUTIFUL PATIO

7 Tips for an Energy-Efficient Backyard

As you know, saving water and energy has become more important than ever to help limit climate change.

It’s not as difficult as you think with a bit of common sense and the help of modern technology.

In this article, we are going to explore some ways to do just that.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Use solar-powered lights

Outdoor solar lights are the perfect eco-friendly solution to light your backyard. 

They are becoming more and more affordable and efficient and come in a variety of shapes. String lights, torches, pathway lights, motion sensor lights and even Christmas lights.

You have no more excuse not to use solar lights in your outdoor space!

Use a Fire Pit and Candles

You can add a fire pit to light your backyard naturally.

Choose gas and smokeless to make it environment-friendly.

Another way to add light and atmosphere is to use candles.

Go for natural and organic candles. Soy candles are the best. You can even find some with citronella to repel mosquitoes at the same time!

Energy Saving Light Bulbs

If you still have some electric lighting, remember to use energy efficient light bulbs.

They even make smart bulbs that can be controlled from your smartphone or from Alexa.

Also very useful are smart plugs, that let you turn off your electrical devices from afar or program a time to turn off all your outdoor lights.

Pool

If you own a swimming pool there are a few things you can do to reduce your energy consumption.

First of all, get a pool cover, that will keep the heat in and reduce the heating cost. You can also invest in a solar pool heater.

Use an automatic timer on your pool pump. It doesn’t need to run all day, every day. If your budget is higher, consider an energy-efficient pool pump. Some may be eligible for local utility rebates, so it’s worth consulting your local council.

Image by Silviu from Pixabay

Lawn Care

As you may be aware, lawns are not good for the environment.

Fertilizers, pesticides, gas lawn mowers and watering are all very costly to the planet.

According to the EPA, one gas lawn mower emits 89 pounds of CO2 and 34 pounds of other pollutants per year.

Ideally, reducing the size of your lawn would be the best option. Agrement your backyard with stone or wood paths, native plants, trees and a water feature instead.

If you still want to keep a lawn, use an electrical mower or a push mower. Exercise is good for you!

Make you Watering Smarter

According to EPA, the average American family uses 320 gallons of water per day, about 30 percent of which is devoted to outdoor uses.

Reducing this amount is critical to lower your bills and have a more sustainable backyard.

The ways to reduce water usage include mulching, collecting rain water and using a smart sprinkler controller system.

Find out more ways to save water.

Pesticides and Weed Control

I’m not going to explain why you should stop using chemicals in your garden and your lawn.

The best way to do that is to use mulch and to start composting.

Diversify. Plant a tree (or 3!) in your yard, add shrubs and colorful perennials. This will provide shade and bring in all sorts of living organisms.

Choosing plants that produce nectar, pollen, seeds and fruits are a good source of food for natural predators like insects and birds.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is another way to save water and time at the same time.

Drip irrigation is really fast to set up, decreases amount of water used, and saves you time walking back and forth all over your garden.

You just roll out the irrigation strips next to your plants and set up your gridwork throughout your garden.

Connect to your water supply. Turn on the hose and watch the magic unfold.

You can have a glass of wine while your garden is being watered instead of breaking your back and a sweat.

It’s easier than you think!

Saving water in your garden isn’t as complicated as you thought, is it?

There are some great tips here that will help keep your plants alive and kicking while maintaining a low water bill.

It’s best to set up these practices right away in the spring, but they can be done any time of year.