Land+Living: Trees for a Green LA

Green — May 18, 2004 Posted by Anthony

Live in LA? Cool your home with free shade.

Do you live in LA? Do you want to cut down on cooling costs? Did you know the the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power has a program where they will give you free shade trees?

"As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental initiatives that reduce energy use, improve air quality, and beautify local communities, LADWP offers Trees for a Green LA, which is adding thousands of shade trees to Los Angeles’ neighborhoods and communities just like yours. LADWP is providing residential customers with free shade trees and the knowledge to plan for, plant and protect them."

Cool.

Link: L.A. Dept. of Water & Power

Through Trees for a Green LA, the trees planted today will yield benefits well into the future because:

By providing natural urban shading, mature trees help reduce air conditioning use and associated costs at homes and other buildings by up to 20 percent.

By reducing energy use, trees directly lessen the air pollution that comes from the generation of electricity.

By removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from electric generation, trees help lower the rate of global warming.

By trapping and holding up to 50 gallons of water each, trees decrease the stormwater runoff that causes flooding and pollution during the rainy season.