HOW TO BE "GREEN" BY PLANTING "GREENS"

- Richard Sperber, Contributing Writer

Did you know that your landscape helps reduce global warming? Here’s how:

1. Trees slowly remove the carbon that causes global warming from the atmosphere as they grow and mature.  One tree might absorb as much as one ton of carbon over a 40-year lifespan.

2. Trees used for mulching or burning purposes release all the carbon they have absorbed back into the planet. 

3. Enough oxygen for one day is provided for a family of four by a single tree.

4. An entire year’s worth of oxygen for one person is provided by a 50 linear foot landscaped area.

5. An estimated 22 million people annually are supported with enough oxygen from the grass and trees along the U.S. interstate highway system.

6. If a tree absorbs one ton of carbon, it is like erasing 11,000 miles or car emissions.  

7. One large tree has the same cooling power as 15 room-size air conditioners.

8. One acre of trees has the ability to remove up to 5 tons of carbon dioxide and up to 13 tons of other particles and gases annually.

9. Forest Services estimates 50 million well-placed shade trees have the potential of eliminating the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.

10. The greener your landscape, the better the chance it has to stop fire from spreading.

11. Studies show that carefully positioned trees at a home or office can save up to 25 percent of energy costs.  

12. Deciduous trees are the most beneficial kind of tree for providing energy cost savings since they provide shade in the warmer months and allow the sun to shine through in the colder months.

13. Instead of mulching, think composting.  Approximately 50 percent of our total waste can be eliminated through composting.

14. It is no mystery that chemicals found in fertilizer are harmful to the planet.  Although they require more maintenance than fertilizer, coffee grounds are a completely natural way to provide soil with much-needed nitrogen.   

15. It is estimated that 15 to 20 houseplants can purify the interior of an 1,800 square foot house.  NASA conducted a study that shows plants remove low levels of carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.  

16. Using local plants, native to the region, can eliminate the use of fertilizers, need low water maintenance, and require simple irrigation systems.

17. It is estimated that turf grass areas trap 12 million tons of dust and dirt from the air annually. Specifically, one acre of grass can absorb hundreds of pounds of fossil fuel-created sulfur dioxide in a single year.

18. Using native plants can reduce landscape water usage by 50-75 percent

19. The more native the plants, the less turf/lawn space needed in landscape.  Less turf minimizes/eliminates gas lawn mowers which create 2 percent of the world’s fossil fuel emissions.

20. Green roofs can retain up to 75 percent of rainwater.  Plants can use the pollutants in water as nutrients and serve as filters of the rainwater that might run off.

21. Only one percent of the earth’s water is readily available in its usable form.

22. The average home or office building can be turned “green” with an average cost of $1.00 per square foot.  These costs are covered up to 30 percent by rebates and incentive programs.  Payback annual savings are between one to two years.