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
