Home News CCSE Press Releases Two Months Left to Apply for Free Shade Trees Through the South Bay Shade Tree Program

Two Months Left to Apply for Free Shade Trees Through the South Bay Shade Tree Program

Thursday, 17 January 2008 00:00
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (January 17, 2008) — The California Center for Sustainable Energy ( CCSE), in cooperation with The Home Depot Foundation, is giving away 1,000 trees to South Bay residents at no cost through the South Bay Shade Tree Program.

Applications are due March 15, 2008. South Bay residents still have time to apply for up to 10 free, full-sized, 15-gallon, nursery-quality trees, available in more than 20 varieties. There are many benefits of planting shade trees:

  • Up to 20% savings of energy (and money): Trees shading your home reduce the need for air-conditioning. They also reduce the “urban heat island effect” by lowering outside air temperature.
  • Improved air quality: Trees remove carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere and release oxygen.
  • Increased property values: Trees improve your neighborhood’s appearance and can increase your property value up to 10%.
  • Reduced storm run-off: Trees absorb excess groundwater.

For those living outside of South Bay, free trees will be available until December 2008.

The South Bay Shade Program helps the communities of National City, Chula Vista and Imperial Beach create a cleaner, healthier environment by increasing awareness of trees as valuable elements of the urban environment. The program also helps to increase the survival rate of trees by educating home owners on proper tree planting maintenance techniques.

The South Bay Shade Program is modeled after CCSE’s award-winning Cool Communities Shade Tree Program which provides similar services throughout San Diego County. For more information about the South Bay Shade Program, visit www.trees.energycenter.org or call 1-866-SDENERGY.

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