Just in case you haven’t been paying attention, climate change is causing unprecedented heat waves across not only the United States but also the entire world. One ‘technology’ that we can use to combat heat waves is trees. Research shows that heat kills more people in the United States than hurricanes, tornados and other weather events do. In fact, heat waves contribute to about 12,000 deaths in the US each and every year.
How can trees do that? Well, for one thing, scientists have discovered that trees can lower air temperatures in cities by 10 degrees. That can be a life-saving difference. Trees also reduce the electrical demand caused by air conditioners, which spares money and emissions as well as the likelihood of power outages occurring.
Brian Stone, Jr. is a professor of environmental planning at the Georgia Institute of Technology. As he says, “Trees are, quite simply, the most effective strategy we have to guard against heat in cities.” Some cities are starting to take notice of this. For example, in Des Moines, Iowa, city planners and property owners worked together to develop land while keeping trees intact. Versions of this story are also playing out in other cities such as Boston, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago and more.
Despite promises to the contrary, American cities are not adding to their total number of trees by planting new ones. The news related to his is rather sobering. Research indicates that American cities and towns lose the canopy of around 35 million trees every year. Shocking, right?
Unfortunately, at this same time, America’s cities are facing what can only be referred to as a ‘heat crisis.’ The largest cities are warming at a rate twice that of the planet as a whole. It’s sad to note that most Americans don’t understand the importance of trees and the benefits they provide. Besides reducing heat, trees filter out air pollution, suck up storm water, store carbon, nurture wildlife and can improve people’s mental and physical health.
A tree’s shade, a sweet relief from solar radiation, is only part of its cooling power. Trees also evaporate water, pulling it from the ground and releasing it into the air via their leaves. Have you ever wondered why walking through a forest or sitting in a playground surrounding by trees feels more refreshing than the shade of a lone tree? It’s because it actually is. The more trees you have around you, the more you feel their salubrious effects.
If you carefully position your trees, you can reduce a home’s energy costs by up to 25 percent, according to the US Department of Energy. Current statistics hold that nationwide urban trees offer an estimated $18.3 billion in air pollution removal, carbon sequestration, lowered energy use in buildings and reduced emissions from power plants. It’s sad that, across the country, many people see trees as a nuisance or even a liability. They look at how trees drop seeds, nuts, and leaves. Trees can also buckle sidewalks, making them difficult to tread upon. They are often accused of breaking pipes. Scientists say that this assumption is incorrect. Most pipes break from age, which only leads nearby trees to send roots towards the leaking water.
Occasionally tree limbs break or they blow over. This poses a real problem. Since climate change is not only increasing heat but also increasing deadly storms. Trees that are closest to people’s homes should be monitored for weaknesses. However, it’s also true that trees can block the wind and effectively reduce a storm’s force.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue of climate change, it’s easy to see that trees matter and have an impact on our environment. We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and look forward to bringing you more trees as the weeks and months ensue.
