outdoors
LIVING GREEN
Trees offer many benefits, from
reducing pollution, to adding beauty
and value to property, to creating
wildlife habitat. Perhaps the most
tangible benefit is reducing energy
bills. We talked with two tree
experts—Dan Lambe, vice president
of programs for the Arbor Day
Foundation, and Scott Maco, a
research urban forester with the
Davey Tree Institute—to learn more
about this.
Ü
* How much energy
• and money can you
actually save by planting trees?
DAN: “Trees have a major effect, but
it’s difficult to be specific because
every site is unique. One study
showed that mature trees properly
placed around buildings can reduce
air-conditioning needs by 30 percent
and heating needs by 20 percent.
Another study showed that planting
one young tree on the west side of
your home can cut energy costs by
3 percent within five years, and
nearly 12 percent within 15 years.”
SCOTT: “Local climate plays a big
role. Homes in hot areas can save up
to 30 percent on their electricity
bills, while in milder climates the
savings may be only 5 percent.
However, even that can add up to
substantial savings. The Davey Tree
Institute, partnering with Casey
Trees, maintains a Tree Benefit
Calculator at
d a v e y .c o m /tre e c a lc u la to r
that helps you estimate the benefits of
having a tree in your yard.”
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AUGUST 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
