Whether it’s the gorgeous colors, the falling leaves, or the leaf piles calling to you to jump in, fall is here and truly the unsung heroes of the season are the trees. In honor of them and all they provide, consider planting a few yourself!
The average tree absorbs 22 pounds of carbon dioxide per year for the first 20 years. Of course, this is just on average because there are many factors that affect this statistic including their size, growth rate and age. To put this into perspective, 22 pounds of carbon dioxide is equivalent to about 1 gallon of gas, so yes, you would need to plant MANY trees in order to annually offset a car that runs on gasoline.
However, there are numerous other benefits trees offer in connection to fighting climate change. Properly placed trees shade our homes and office buildings, reducing air conditioning needs up to 35% percent, thereby reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned to produce electricity. You may also want to plant trees to conserve winter warmth or provide a windbreak to save energy.
But the benefits of trees don’t end there. Check out more Tree Facts provided by the Arbor Day Foundation. Trees don’t just clean our air and provide us with oxygen but can be directly linked to reducing crime and improving our health.
Ready to get planting? The Arbor Day’s Tree Wizard can help you decide what the best tree is to plant in your area. No room to plant in your yard, your home, or around your apartment? You can still plant trees by getting involved in an organization such as Tree People. Or if you prefer to support an organization that protects and conserves forests worldwide, re-read our Week 39 Action of the Week.
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