The Blessed Season

Unless you heat your hot water with oil or gas, spring brings a rest from energy bills and encourages open windows, walks outdoors, more exercise, and fewer allergic symptoms. Days get longer, lights are on less, heavy clothing goes into storage, and pets get washed and groomed more, after which they go roll in the mud. Thanks, Rex.

Many Americans cook outdoors on grilles fueled by gas, or even charcoal. Those of us devoted to home maintenance wash our windows, clean our carpets and declutter our gutters. Careful on that ladder, please.

The fable of the ant and grasshopper is a bit overstated, but now is a good time to think about the first heat wave, and how you can get a grip on energy bills as well as making your house more comfortable during summer weather. Even if you were never a Scout, you begin by finding north and south. the sunnyest sides of your house are the ones that bring solar heat into your living space all winter, and they do the same thing all summer. But you don't want all that solar gain in the summer, unless you live in Manitoba. God bless you Manitobans.

Consider planting shrubs along the sunny sides of the house, shrubs tall enough to mask windows, deciduous (shedding leaves in fall), lush enough to effectively block sunlight, and maybe even nice to look at. Flowering, even. Trees are nice, if you have the room in your yard, but shrubs cost lots less and grow to an effective height much faster. Here's a list of shrubs that fit the bill in New England.

I do bang on a bit about window coverings, but I do it for a reason (see previous post). In summer as well as winter, solar gain and heat loss through windows can be controlled effectively with any form of window treatment. While you're waiting for the shrubs to grow, consider reflective drapes or panels, or get funky and drape your southerly windows with light-colored fabric. Anything you do will help, and some light can still get in through the covering. Blinds have been useful for this purpose for many years. Just make sure they're white or reflective on the outer surface.

Trellises are not in fashion lately, but they also work to shade windows at exactly the right time of year. Wisteria, roses, clematis, ivy and honeysuckle make beautiful window treatments on the outside. Follow the links to some lovely photos of the plants in their native glory, It may inspire you. We'll be back soon to talk about more summer energy techniques.