Trees modify climate and conserve energy in three principal ways:
Shading reduces the amount of radiant energy absorbed and stored by buildings and asphalt surfaces.
Transpiration converts moisture to water vapor, which cools the air by using solar energy that would otherwise result in heating the air.
Wind-speed reduction reduces the movement of outside air into interior spaces and conductive heat loss where thermal conductivity is relatively high, such as with glass windows.
Findings
Street trees provide the Buckeye-Shaker Square neighborhood an annual energy savings of roughly $34,474. This amounts to approximately $12.98 per tree and $46.46 per acre. Additionally, street trees provide the Cudell neighborhood an annual energy savings of roughly $28,102. This amounts to approximately $17.82 per tree and $40.27 per acre.
Energy Savings Provided by Street Trees in Buckeye-Shaker Square and Cudell
Neighborhood
Tree Count
Energy Benefits ($)
Energy Benefits per Tree
Total Acres
Energy Benefits per Acre
Buckeye-Shaker Square
2,656
$34,474
$13
7420
$460
Cudell
1,577
$28,1020
$18
698
$400
Electricity and MBTU values are based on $0.117/Kwh and $13.320/MBTU. Trees less than 20 ft./6m tall and further than 60 ft./18m away will not be used to calculate energy benefits. Trees with no building information collected were not included.