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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).
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