What Can What Can Trees Do Trees Do

For For My My

Community?Community?

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Trees Help Reduce The Greenhouse Effect

Issue: Poor air quality present in many regions of South Carolina help increase the Greenhouse Effect.

The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth

experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy

from the sun.

Approximately half of the greenhouse effect is caused by carbon

dioxide (CO2).

Trees remove CO2 during photosynthesis.

Carbon is stored in their trunks, branches, and leaves while they

release oxygen back into the air.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Trees Reduce Air Pollutants

Pollutant removal is critically important for those suffering from

respiratory and other diseases.

Trees help reduce these pollutants, as well as improve air quality.

Trees rooted in city streets help reduce up to 60% of particulates

(small particles emitted in smoke from burnt fuel).

Issue: Air pollutants released from industry expansion

and transportation exhaust cause health issues.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Urban Forests Protect Water Quality and Prevent Erosion

Issue: Erosion, flooding, and storm water management are costly community issues.

Trees help prevent erosion and flooding.

They also reduce the amount of storm water that flows into drainage areas, which reduces water pollution.

Trees reduce topsoil erosion, slow down water run-off, prevent absorption of harmful land pollutants, and replenish our groundwater supplies.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Trees Help Conserve Energy

Issue: High energy costs Americans millions of dollars a year.

2 billion dollars of energy can be saved through the use of three

trees per un-shaded home.

Properly landscaped homes can save up to 58% on daytime air

conditioning, which can reduce oil consumption by 500,000 barrels

per day nationwide.

Energy consumption can be

reduced by 30% in the

winter, and 20 % in the

summer.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Trees Increase Business

Issue: Poor landscaped areas decrease sales.

Shoppers are willing to pay for parking and up to 12% more for

goods and services in tree-lined commercial districts.

Customers shop

more frequently and

for longer periods of

times in well-

landscaped

business districts.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Trees Increase Property Values

Issue: Homeowners’ poorly landscaped yards have negative effects

on property value.

Property valued of landscaped homes are 5-20% higher than those of

non-landscaped homes.

Each large front yard tree adds 1% to price, and large specimen trees

can add 10% or more to property values.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

Trees Help Save Money

Issue: Pollution removal and high energy prices are costly for

local governments and tax payers.

Pollution removal in large cities can reach 9 million dollars a year.

Trees can help save these cities by:

Reducing energy needs and bills by providing shade homes and office

buildings.

Generating $31,250 worth of oxygen over a 50 year time period.

Jim Self CenterStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

For more information:

SC Forestry CommissionCommunity Forestry Programhttp://www.state.sc.us/forest/urban.htm

or

The Jim Self Center on the FutureStrom Thurmond InstituteClemson University

http://www.strom.clemson.edu