Trees & Air Quality The following information can be found at this website.
Trees are much more than something pretty in your yard. They are important for a number of reasons, including:
Reducing run-off of water
Providing habitat for wildlife
Providing people with forest products
Providing a recreation site
Economic value
Aesthetic value
In addition, trees and plants have a great impact on our air quality. Trees act like filters. The leaves capture particulates like dust, soot, and pollen and remove them from the air. They also remove and store carbon and reduce our need for energy.Trees act like a carbon warehouse. In the process of photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. A healthy tree uses over 20 lbs. of carbon dioxide each year. The carbon is stored in the tree (wood is about 45 percent carbon) and the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas. Other greenhouse gases include a variety of nitrogen oxides, methane, and chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs). Trees are outdoor air conditioners.
They provide a natural way to shade and cool your house in summer and can shield your home from the cold winds of winter. A person can save energy by landscaping with trees. Deciduous trees planted on the south, west, and east will protect your home from the direct rays of the sun in summer. In winter, without their leaves, they allow most of the sun's energy to reach the house. Conifers to the north and west can block cold winter winds. This reduces consumption of energy to heat your home.A successful urban tree program can also impact whole communities.
Cities are often 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) warmer than suburbs, partially due to the "heat island effect" cause by concrete, steel, and asphalt. The planting and care of trees can minimize this phenomenon and greatly reduce energy consumption.
