These Trees Will Help You Lower Your Energy Bill
If someone told you that one mature tree sequesters 50 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, you’d probably think, Great, but what does that mean? Austin Mackrill, vice president of the Arbor Day Farm, part of the Arbor Day Foundation, knows that’s a challenging figure to wrap one’s head around, so instead he likes to tell people to look at it this way: A single mature tree provides enough oxygen for two people each year.
In the last 49 years, the foundation has worked to celebrate trees and educate the public on the many ways they help us. “It’s something we know is important to nature, is important to our lives,” Austin says. “There isn’t really another substitute out there.”
To date, the Lincoln, Nebraska–based organization has worked to plant approximately 300 million trees. It’s no small feat, but its mission for this year could dwarf it. The goal, Austin says, is to engage with 5 million first-time planters and put 100 million more trees in the ground worldwide by this time next year, just in time for the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day (which happens on the last Friday in April). One of the ways they plan to do that is appealing to homeowners looking to lower their energy bills.
Depending on what type of tree is planted and where it is in relation to your house, it can help reduce air conditioning and heating costs. For instance, placing sturdy evergreen trees on the north side of a property helps protect from North Winds (especially in northern latitudes), making it easier to heat homes in the winter and saving up to 30% on heating bills. Similarly, homes with leafy, deciduous trees on the western side of the dwelling (which sees the hottest afternoon sun) create a leaf canopy, providing shade that can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 35%.
The Arbor Day Foundation has a few ways to help tree lovers determine the best positioning and species of trees. The most robust is a program called Energy-Saving Trees (also known as Community Canopy). The program is designed to help utility companies, municipalities, and nonprofits distribute trees to their communities. For each partner, the foundation develops a web portal where community members can reserve an available sapling and plot the best spot in their yard using satellite imaging for their new addition.
To date, the program has worked with partners in 43 states, and in 2020 alone, the initiative planted 387,598 trees, saving an estimated $172 million in energy costs. And if Energy-Saving Trees isn’t active in your community, you can still receive trees. The Arbor Day Foundation offers 10 free trees to members and basic information about where to plant for summer shade, winter warmth, and windbreak on the website.
“The important thing really is getting a tree in the ground,” Austin says. “And, if you’re going to plant a tree for Arbor Day, why not do it with another person that you love and care about? You can tell them, ‘When that tree matures it’ll be enough for us.’”
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
