Plant a Tree
Posted on 05-04-2016
National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday of each April. It is a day which reminds us of the many benefits of trees, one being energy conservation. According to Arbor Day Foundation, by planting large broad-leaved trees on the west, east and northwest sides of your home, you can cut your air conditioning costs by up to 35% as the trees offer great shade from the hot summer sun. It is suggested that you plant trees over outdoor decks, patios, driveways and especially air conditioning units. Shade from trees help slow down deterioration of street pavement so that less maintenance is needed.
It's a fact that trees are natural air purifiers for our planet. Trees recycle CO2 and produce oxygen back into the air. Urban Forestry Network states, "Young trees absorb CO2 at a rate of 13 pounds per tree each year. Trees reach their most productive stage of carbon storage at 10 years, absorbing 48 pounds of CO2 per year."
Arbor Day Foundation is full of ways to help plant trees in our national forests, communitites that have been stricken by natural disasters such as tornadoes, and a way to shop for trees as well as gift trees. Arborday.org is a wonderful resource for learning about types of trees, the importance of trees for our water system and vegetation and shows how you can get involved in your own community.
Did You Know?
Today the United States is the second largest producer of hydropower - Canada being the largest. There are 75,185 dams in the U.S. but less than 3 percent are used for hydroelectric generation. Between 8 and 12 percent of U.S. electrical generation is produced by hydropower and only about one-fifth of the electricity produced around the world.
