Planting trees now will help beat the heat later
Tucson Clean & Beautiful accepting applications for low-cost shade trees
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Trees For Tucson -
As winter temperatures linger, it is a good time to plant trees before the weather warms, said Tucson Clean & Beautiful about their Trees for Tucson Program.
The program, which provides low-cost trees to customers of Tucson Electric Power, is taking applications for shade trees, said Rockey Yosek, Trees for Tucson co-ordinator.
Trees are $8 and must be planted with 15 feet of the home's west, south or east side, Yosek said. The trees are delivered with planting instructions.
"We try to explain the importance of the trees, a lot of people think trees are more of a nuisance than a saving grace, but they need to realize out in the desert its really important," Yosek said. "We can't take the trees for granted."
The shade tree program began in 1989 to encourage people to help save energy by reducing power consumption during the desert's hot summer months.
"We have sold around 70,000 trees total since we've started and when Tucson Electric Power joined with us in 1996. It has been very successful and we have always had a high demand," said Yosek.
People with homes that have single-pane windows built in 1979 and earlier are able to receive up to four trees. Those with homes built in the 1980s or later that have double-pane windows can receive two trees, Yosek said.
Applications for the trees are available for download at Tucson Clean & Beautiful's website or by calling 791-3109.
