Everyone knows that houseplants add beauty and color to a home. But did you know that they offer economic benefits to homeowners, too?
SFGate Home Guides says that having plants inside your home can help reduce energy costs. Although it’s a popular fact that outdoor plants can help save on residential energy bills, many don’t know that indoor plants can do the same.
How plants lower the temperature:
The shade that outdoor plants provide helps keep the house cooler, especially during the warm season. Experts even say that a relatively young healthy tree can keep a building as cool as ten room-sized AC units. Although house plants can’t provide the same effect as an outdoor tree, they do reduce heating and cooling costs by adding humidity inside the house.
Plants release moisture into the environment from their leaves. When that happens, the moisture can effectively reduce the temperature by as much as 10 degrees. Meanwhile, a cool but humid area appears warmer because the moisture found in the air holds warmth much better.
Best plant choices for your home
If you’re looking for the best indoor plants, choose the ones that will thrive even if they’re somewhat neglected. Fortunately, some plants are perfect for indoor living, even without much maintenance.
One of them is Ficus Benjamina. House Beautiful says that it’s one of the very few trees that can thrive indoors. Calling for an air conditioning installation in Salt Lake City, Utah is great, but adding a Ficus Benjamina is even better, because it can help increase the moisture in the air and keep it cool, providing your home with a perfect solution for heat reduction. If you’re planning to bring one into your home, choose one with a tall trunk that has a bushy top so that it will work as a little shade for other plants around it. By keeping plants together, you can replicate an atmospheric ecosystem that will surely create a pleasant environment.
Rubber Plants
Another plant that’s perfect for your home is a rubber plant. Similar to Ficus Benjamina, it can also help improve the area’s humidity, which produces a cooling effect. Choose rubber plants that have bigger leaves to ensure that more moisture will get released into the atmosphere. Try to water these a little, to keep the soil evenly damp. Also, place your plant in a light spot, but not directly under the sun.
Chinese Evergreens
Another plant known for its toxin purifying ability is the Chinese Evergreen. These are lightly colored plants that have a high transpiration rate and keep lots of moisture in the air. These plants have several variations, which is perfect, especially if you want to decorate your home with beautiful greens.
Beating the heat can be a challenge. That’s why you need to come up with various solutions to keep your house comfortable at all times. Aside from plants, there are other ways to keep your home comfortable no matter what the weather may be. You only need to choose which one will work for your lifestyle.
