Tree Benefits

Trees Are Green Infrastructure

The costly infrastructure of your community is subject to wear and tear from weather as much as use, but trees are able to extend a number of critical care benefits to the things we build.

Trees positively affect air temperature, wind speed, humidity and turbulence – elements that degenerate our infrastructure through wear and tear. More importantly, our paved and built surfaces (streets, roofs, sidewalks and parking lots) absorb radiation.

In southern climates, it is not uncommon for urbanized (asphalt) surfaces to measure 50º-70º hotter than land areas outside the urban boundary. Unfortunately, this radiation combines with surface pollution (such as motorized exhaust) to create a virtual ozone factory. It also volatizes the binding agents found in asphalt, and accelerates the deterioration of road surfaces.

The shade, vapor and cooling effects provided by trees can prolong the life of our infrastructure and reduce production of ground ozone.

In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.
Trees cut down noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.
Trees located along streets act as a glare and reflection control.
Canopy-shaded concrete has a life span increase of roughly 12% over unshaded.
Shaded asphalt roads remain viable at least twice as long between resurfacings (a single linear mile can cost $50,000 to resurface).