Holland Board of Public Works Offering 300 Free Trees to Residents through Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees Program
LINCOLN, Neb., February 12, 2019 /3BL Media/ —Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW), partnering with the City of Holland, is providing 300 free trees to HBPW electric customers through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. This program helps communities across the United States save energy and expand their tree canopies.
“We’re the first in the State of Michigan to offer this tree planting program,” said Morgan Kelley, conservation programs specialist, HBPW. “Planting a tree in your yard strategically can help lower energy bills as well as provide environmental benefits, including air absorption, water filtration, and carbon capture.”
Starting today, Holland BPW electric customers can reserve their free tree at arborday.org/HBPW. Participants will be able to pick up the tree at the HBPW Service Center (625 Hastings Ave. Holland, MI 49423) on April 27 from 8 a.m. to noon.
“The online tool walks customers through reserving a tree and guides them in selecting the most strategic planting location for maximum impact,” said Kelley. “It also estimates annual energy savings and uses the customer’s overhead and underground utility information to ensure trees are planted away from power lines and underground infrastructure.”
Participants are expected to care for and plant their tree in the location provided by the online tool. Customers may choose one of four species: red maple, river birch, royal star magnolia or prairiefire crabapple.
Residents must call MISS DIG at 811 before planting their tree.
Registration for Energy-Saving Trees will remain open for Holland BPW customers until all 300 trees are reserved.
The Energy-Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree software to calculate estimated benefits. In addition to providing approximate energy savings, the tool also estimates the trees’ other benefits, including cleaner air, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improved storm water management.
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About the Arbor Day Foundation
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. During the last 44 years, more than 250 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.
As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.
About Holland Board of Public Works
The Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) is a community-owned enterprise providing electric generation and distribution, water, wastewater treatment and broadband utility services to more than 28,000 business and residential customers in the Holland area. HBPW is committed to enhancing the economic and environmental vitality of the community, providing reliable services at the lowest rates achievable through innovation, efficiency and professional operations.
