Pepco and the Arbor Day Foundation Launch Energy-Saving Project

Pilot Program to Provide 3,000 Free Trees to Customers

WASHINGTON – Pepco, in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation, is providing 3,000 free trees to Pepco customers in the Washington, D.C., area. The cooperative effort launches the Arbor Day Foundation’s pilot energy efficiency program called Energy-Saving Trees aimed at helping conserve energy through strategic tree planting.  

The trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with 1,000 trees reserved for District of Columbia customers, 1,000 trees for Montgomery County, Md., customers, and 1,000 trees for Prince George’s County, Md., customers.

Pepco customers can reserve up to two free trees at www.arborday.org/pepco from September 26 to November 12, 2011. The free-tree distribution is being handled through the Arbor Day Foundation.  In return for the free trees, customers agree to plant them in a recommended location on their property and care for them. The planting location will be recommended based on its potential to create shade as the tree grows in height to reduce energy consumption.

To ensure that customers are planting the right trees in the most strategic location, the Energy-Saving Trees program uses an online tool. Customers can map their houses, select a tree with energy-saving potential, learn the best energy-saving and safe locations to plant, and receive an estimate of the annual savings that may result when the tree grows. When a Pepco customer reserves trees, the two- to four-foot trees will be delivered directly to the customer for planting in the location identified online at the best time for planting this fall.

Along with the estimated future energy savings, the online tool also provides estimates of other community benefits that trees provide, including air quality improvements, storm-water reduction, and carbon sequestration.          

“Pepco is honored to cooperate with the Arbor Day Foundation to provide 3,000 free trees to our customers,” says Thomas Graham, President, Pepco Region. “As a company that consistently has been recognized as a Tree Line USA utility by the Arbor Day Foundation for our quality tree care, annual worker training in quality tree care practices and our tree planting and public education program, we welcome the opportunity to provide power-line friendly trees that not only beautify our environment, but also provide the potential for our customers to save energy and money.”

Customers are reminded to call 811 before they dig to avoid hitting underground utilities.

About Energy-Saving Trees:
Energy-Saving Trees is a new energy-efficiency program from the Arbor Day Foundation that expands their effort to work with utility companies across the nation. Currently the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Line USA program recognizes 146 public and private utility companies that demonstrate practices that protect and enhance America’s urban forests. Energy-Saving Trees provides utilities and communities with a turn-key energy-efficiency program using strategic tree planting around homes and buildings. Learn more about Energy-Saving Trees at arborday.org/energysavingtrees.

About The Arbor Day Foundation:
The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.  More information about the Foundation and its conservation programs can be found at www.arborday.org


Pepco News Release 9/26/11

»»  read more

Colesville Patch Story

Check out the Colesville Patch story about Castle Boulevard Getting A Pedestrian Safety Makeover:

http://colesville.patch.com/articles/castle-boulevard-gets-a-pedestrian-safety-makeover#photo-7864893

»»  read more

Councilmember Nancy Navarro’s Statement on Castle Boulevard Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Improvements

District 4 Councilmember Also Addresses Other

Quality of Life Measures for East County Residents

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 21, 2011—Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro today joined Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, other officials and local residents to celebrate the completion of pedestrian and traffic safety improvements along Castle Boulevard. The improvements were installed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). 

Councilmember Navarro, who represents District 4 that includes the eastern portion of the County, had requested that MCDOT consider measures to increase safety as nine crashes occurred along Castle Boulevard in the last three years, including two collisions involving pedestrians.  A speed study indicated that the majority of cars on the road were traveling nine miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour.

Councilmember Navarro today not only addressed the importance of the Castle Boulevard safety improvements, she also talked about other measures that affect the quality of life of residents in the eastern portion of the County. The full text of her statement:

We have some wonderful neighborhoods in the East County, but we also have some profound needs. This part of the County has faced numerous challenges for many years. Since I was elected in 2009, I have made improving the quality of life in this community a priority.

Every resident in Montgomery County deserves to feel safe where they live. Today, I am pleased to present these pedestrian safety and traffic calming tools on Castle Boulevard in the Briggs Chaney area. All parents should feel confident that their children are safe from speeding cars when walking to and from school.

While these are important pedestrian safety measures, we must do much more to improve the overall quality of life in this area. We need jobs and economic development. We need increased access to public transportation. And we must increase the number of police officers on patrol to keep residents in Briggs Chaney safe. For too long, this area has been impacted by high levels of crime. This must change.

Even in the most challenging economic times, we were able to increase the police budget and boost the number of officers on the street. I have and will continue to urge Police Chief Manger to immediately step up the number of police officers assigned to the Briggs Chaney area. I have been assured by the Police Department that the full staffing enhancement for the area will be complete by the spring. I look forward to working with the chief and County Executive Leggett to make that happen.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the ongoing programming targeting youth and the broader community. Working with County Executive Leggett and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), we have set up the tremendously successful Teen Escape Club at the East County Community Center, which provides kids a safe and fun place to go. The Briggs Chaney farmers market is a great source of pride for this community and I am pleased that this tradition has persisted. The community involvement project by IMPACT Silver Spring, in partnership with the satellite police station and MCPS, has been a productive and meaningful collaboration that will continue strengthening our community.

I will continue working with the County Executive and the Council to provide the quality of life this community deserves.  

»»  read more