The Power of a Tree
Planting a tree isn’t just a good way to spruce up your home’s landscape. It can also help you save energy.
According to the national Arbor Day Foundation, planting the right trees in the right place can help the average homeowner save up to 20 percent on their energy bill. Trees also help to improve the quality of the air we breathe, help manage stormwater runoff, and reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
Since 2011, the foundation has partnered with organizations (including Liberty) to distribute more than 450,000 trees to households across the country.
In celebration of Earth Day 2023, Liberty was on hand for May the Forest Be with You – an event held at the Wildcat Glades natural area in Joplin, Missouri. It was the perfect opportunity to conduct the annual tree giveaway, which offered free, three-gallon trees to the first 500 households who registered online.
“We’ve been doing (the tree giveaway) each year as part of our Tree Line USA award,” said Jason Grossman, Liberty’s Manager of Vegetation Management. “Ten years ago, we were standing out on the corner of Fourth and Main streets tossing seedlings into people’s cars at the stoplights. It has grown significantly over the years with more partnerships.
"As part of the award, we offer public education and part of that is giving away trees and informing people about the Arbor Day Foundation’s Right Tree in the Right Place program.
“Deciduous trees planted on the east or west side of the home provide shade during the hot summer months and allow sunlight to warm the house during cold winter months. Evergreen trees planted on the north side can provide a wind break from the cold northerly winds during winter.”
This year marked the second year for the Community Canopy Program in Liberty's South Lake Tahoe, California, service area
In 2022, Liberty worked with the Arbor Day Foundation and a local nursery to launch the program, which provides a complimentary tree, bush, or shrub to all interested customers in the service territory. The first year saw more than 715 distributed. According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s calculations, those trees, bushes and shrubs may save approximately 885,246 kWh of energy, sequester 1,708,603 pounds of carbon, remove 3,787 pounds of air pollution, and filter 1,866,344 gallons of stormwater.
In New Hampshire, Liberty recently funded and assisted with the moving of a magnificent, 77-foot white pine tree from Oak Hill, through downtown Hanover, and to its final destination - Mink Brook Nature Preserve. The tree will be made into a bridge that will carry hikers safely over the book. In addition to funding the project, Liberty employees acted as the lead and follow vehicles during the transport and assisted with the unloading of the 5-ton tree upon its arrival at the nature preserve.
