The California Center for Sustainable Energy gave away over 43,000 shade trees to single-family homes, multi-family buildings, public agencies, non-profits and K-12 schools throughout Orange and San Diego counties ( SDG&E customer)s. And not little tiny trees either. These were full-sized, 15-gallon nursery quality specimens in the client's choice of over 20 varieties. Each home received up to 10 trees per household.
Thank you for your interest in the Cool Communities Shade Tree Program. We look forward to giving you the opportunity to manage a similar program in the future to grow our urban forest and save energy in Californians home! This program ran until the end of 2008
Why a CCSE managed a Tree Program?
Trees beautify your property, clean the air, help conserve energy and reduce your energy bill, while improving property values by up to 10%. Strategically planted trees maximize energy savings, so following these tips is important to achieve the greatest benefit from your shade trees:
- Plant only deciduous trees on the south side of the building to allow the sun to warm your home in the winter
- Concentrate planting on the west side, that's where the energy savings are the greatest
Trees That CCSE managed
Below is a summary of the tree choices and basic information
|
Botanical Name
|
Common Name | Type | Height (ft.) | Spread (ft.) |
| SMALL | ||||
| Arbutus unedo | Strawberry Madrone | Evergreen | 15-25 | 15-25 |
| Eriobotrya deflexa | Bronze Loquat | Evergreen | 20-30 | 15-25 |
| Largerstroemia indica | Crape Myrtle (pick color) | Deciduous | 15-25 | 15-20 |
| Rhus lancea | African Sumac | Evergreen | 20-30 | 25-35 |
| MEDIUM | ||||
| Albizia julibrissin | Mimosa Silk | Evergreen | 20-40 | 25-40 |
| Bauhinia purpurea | Purple Orchid (Limit 2) | Deciduous | 20-40 | 20-30 |
| Cassia letophylla | Golden Medallion | Semi-evergreen | 20-50 | 20-30 |
| Koelreuteria bipinnata | Chinese Flame | Deciduous | 25-45 | 25-45 |
| Metrosideros excelsus | New Zealand Christmas | Evergreen | 25-35 | 20-30 |
| Morus alba 'fruitless' | Fruitless Mulberry | Deciduous | 25-35 | 25-40 |
| Robinia ambigua | Purple Robe/Locust | Deciduous | 30-40 | 25-35 |
| LARGE | ||||
| Cinnamomum camphora | Camphor | Evergreen | 40-65 | 45-60 |
| Jacaranda mimosifolia | Jacaranda | Deciduous | 30-60 | 30-40 |
| Magnolia grandiflora | Southern Magnolia | Evergreen | 60-80 | 40-60 |
| Pistacia chinensis | Chinese Pistache | Deciduous | 40-60 | 30-50 |
| Plantanus x acerifolia | London Plane | Deciduous | 60-90 | 60-70 |
| Podocarpus gracilior | Fern Pine | Evergreen | 40-60 | 35-50 |
| Podocarpus henkelii | Long-Leafed Yellow Wood | Evergreen | 40-50 | 20-30 |
| Quercus agrifolia | Coastal Live Oak | Evergreen | 55-70 | 50-70 |
Other Useful Resources
San Diego Regional Urban Forest Council or California Urban Forest Council
National Arbor Day Foundation
Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DigAlert)
Fueling Alternatives Final Report
