Plant Trees for a Cooler, Cleaner World

Have you ever noticed how much cooler it is in a grove of trees, or even how much more comfortable you feel just hearing the sound of the wind rustling in the leaves? Besides the aesthetic pleasure they give, trees can improve our quality of life in other ways as well.

Because they use carbon dioxide as they grow, trees can offset and even reduce CO2 emissions. If you plant three trees on the southeast and southwest sides of your home, you can cut your air conditioning bills as well as clean up the air and cool the globe. According to American Forests, the nation's oldest citizens' conservation organization, there are at least 100 million spots around our homes and in our towns and cities suitable for trees. When trees shade houses, buildings and pavement from the sun, they help cool down the "heat islands" that build up around pavement and other dark surfaces. "Nature's air conditioners" also help clean up he air, by filtering airborne particles with their leaves and branches.

How to plant a tree

1. Choose at least a 5-to-6-foot tree grown to nursery standards.

2. Select a site with enough room for roots and branches to reach full size. Avoid overhead and underground utilities.

3. Dig a planting area as deep as the root ball and 3 to 5 times its diameter. Add fertilizer or other soil amendments.

4. Set the root ball in the middle, even with ground level, but do not pack down the soil.

5. Water generously.

6. Stake the tree to flex with the wind. Mulch to within 6 inches of the tree trunk.

7. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

• Planting three trees around your house can block incoming sunlight by as much as 70 percent and reduce air-conditioning cost by 10 to 50 percent.

• Awnings, overhangs and shutters mounted on the south, east and west sides of your house will save you $100 to $150 each year thereafter in cooling costs.

• Tree-filled neighborhoods can be up to 9 degrees cooler than unshaded streets.

Trees, Please

Trees and the forests they create play a critical role in main-taining the health of our environment. Their root systems prevent erosion and thereby protect water quality. Their leaves filter the air and, through the shade they cast, reduce global warming. The natural community that develops around forests also helps protect the planet by providing a safe and nurturing environment for all kinds of fish and wildlife.

Unfortunately, forests in this country and around the world are being squeezed by increasing demands for wood and paper. For example, between 50 and 100 acres of tropical rain forest -- an area the size of ten city blocks -- are destroyed every minute. At that rate, there will be no intact tropical forest left within one hundred years. Forests in North America, particularly the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest, are also under stress.

Many offices and individuals have already begun to address deforestation issues at home and abroad by recycling paper and by buying recycled paper products. Here are a few other actions you might consider to minimize your need for wood:

• Hire eco-conscious carpenters or contractors.
  A growing number of construction suppliers are using wood salvaged from other construction projects, particularly in applications that will be hidden from view when the construction is complete. Other contractors are opting for lumber that is "sustainably" harvested from forests, so that the trees are removed from the forest selectively, without destroying the entire forest ecosystem.

• Consider alternative building materials.
  Agricultural by-products such as wheat straw, coconut palm and bamboo have become viable materials for home and office construction.

• Try paper alternatives.
  Some consumers and companies are turning to kenaf, a paper-like product derived from the fast-growing hibiscus cannabinus plant. The plant produces 3-5 tons more fiber per acre than comparable trees that are harvested for paper production, and require 15-25% less energy during the production process.

• Use computer technology for correspondence.
  Instead of printing out memos or letters on stationary, use electronic mail to get your messages across.

"Earth Share, a federation of America's leading non-profit environmental and conservation charities, promotes environmental education and charitable giving in workplace employee campaigns. For more tips or to find out how your workplace can help the earth, see Earth Share's Web site at www.earthshare.org or call (800) 875-3863."