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The landscape surrounding a home is integral to its identity and trees are integral parts of a landscape. Healthy trees last for many years. Their leaves change with the seasons. Kids might have fun climbing them while adults enjoy watching them grow. It’s pretty easy to see the aesthetic benefits of trees, but trees offer much more than natural beauty. Here are five of the best benefits that trees could give your home.
Natural Air Conditioners
Not only do trees clean the surrounding air by filtering carbon dioxide, they also provide shade. Properly placed trees with enough height will cool homes and heat-absorbing surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. This, in turn, translates to real savings on cooling costs. Home energy bills could be reduced by 3 percent within five years and 12 percent within 15 years, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Year-Round Energy Savings
Just as trees provide shade in spring and summer, they also act as wind breaks during fall and winter. Result: lower heating costs to you. Strategic tree placement could save you between $100 to $250 annually according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A 2010 study by the New York City Parks Department found that “the nearly 600,000 street trees in its five boroughs provide an annual benefit of $122 million—more than five times the cost of maintaining them.”3
Many Choices in Any Zone
With trees, the visual possibilities of your landscape are practically endless. Maple trees alone provide a diverse selection of height, color and leaf shape. Oak, Ash, Poplar, Elm, Pine (just to name a popular few) and many options of fruit trees mean you should have plenty of choices no matter where you live. Be sure to check which Hardiness Zone you live in to find which trees grow best in your area.
Community Value
The benefits of trees go beyond your property line. They clean the air for everyone. They provide shade to public sidewalks and streets. They are a visual addition to any space and can collectively extend energy benefits anywhere from entire neighborhoods to whole cities.
Long Term Value
Trees add value to your property immediately and over time. As trees grow, so does their value. The annual cost to maintain a tree is a small fraction compared to the benefits of energy savings and overall value trees can add to a home. A tree in front of a house increased the home’s sale price by an average of $7,130 in the Portland area in 2016, according to the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station.