| Benefits of Trees | | | | drainage systems and then into major water |
| There are a wide variety of benefits that trees | | | | reservoirs. Trees prevent much of this from |
| provide. These benefits range from the | | | | happening. |
| environmental impact to neighborhood | | | | Trees Save Us Money |
| beautification. Here we highlight a number of the | | | | One tree, planted near a house, can reduce the |
| positive impacts that trees can have. | | | | daytime cooling costs associated with that house |
| Trees Reduce Pollution | | | | by nearly 60%. Over a calendar year, strategically |
| Trees are notorious as carbon dioxide absorbers. | | | | placed trees can reduce all energy costs (heating |
| Trees take in carbon dioxide during | | | | and cooling) by 25% or more. In fact, trees are |
| photosynthesis and use it, along with sunlight, soil, | | | | so efficient at cooling the areas they shade that |
| and water, to produce the trees energy needed | | | | entire towns have reduced their energy costs |
| to grow and the byproduct of this process is | | | | simply by planting trees around town. |
| oxygen. | | | | Trees also make money for people by increasing |
| Trees are so efficient at absorbing CO2, in fact, | | | | the value of their homes. One national poll of |
| that just one acre of trees can offset the carbon | | | | realtors showed that as much as 98% of people |
| dioxide produced by a human over the an entire | | | | looking to buy a home will look more favorably on |
| year. But, trees don't even have to be planted in | | | | a home with mature trees than on a house |
| large numbers to have a large impact. One study | | | | without them. Another study showed that houses |
| showed that a single tree planted to shade a | | | | with trees appraised for as much as $5,000 more |
| house can make the house more energy efficient. | | | | for every single tree. |
| This improvement in efficiency can have the | | | | Trees Help Raise Funds |
| same impact on CO2 emissions as 15 trees | | | | Some wise and environmentally minded people |
| planted in a field. | | | | have taken note of the numerous positive |
| Trees also prevent runoff and can dramatically | | | | benefits of trees and have added one more; they |
| slow erosion. Runoff is a major cause of water | | | | sell trees to help raise money for local groups. |
| pollution in urban areas where trash, grass | | | | Tree Fundraisers are great for all kinds of |
| clippings, and other debris often finds its way into | | | | reasons. |