Lincoln, Neb. (October 16, 2012) – Oncor, a Texas-based electricity provider, is working with its suppliers to offer 12,000 free trees to customers through Energy-Saving Trees, an Arbor Day Foundation program that conserves energy and reduces household electricity bills through strategic tree planting.
Oncor provides electricity for more than ten million people and operates approximately 118,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in the state of Texas.
Oncor customers can reserve their free trees today at arborday.org/oncor. Within seconds of accessing the website, an online tool helps customers find the most strategic location for planting and estimates the annual savings that will result from the tree. Customers can reserve up to two trees per household, and the program will continue until all 12,000 trees have been reserved.
In exchange for the free trees, beneficiaries are expected to care for the trees and plant them in the location provided by the online tool. The tool will explain where the right place to plant is and where not to plant, including staying away from planting the trees under power lines. The two-to-four-foot trees will be delivered directly to the customer at an ideal time for planting.
"This exciting program will give Oncor customers the chance to get some energy efficiency measures around their home, while also helping the environment," said Oncor Vice President of Distribution Operations Keith Hull.
The Energy-Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of the Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service's i-Tree Software to calculate estimated benefits. In addition to providing approximate energy savings, the tool also estimates the tree's other benefits, including cleaner air, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improved storm water management.
The 12,000 trees are estimated to yield more than $2 million in energy savings within 20 years.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org, or by visiting us on Facebook, Twitter or our blog.