Arbor Day brings attention to the tree, its impact on the environment, and its benefit to you. As a homeowner, trees bring beauty to landscaping and shade for the house. They also add value to your property.
One study reports that 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a "strong or moderate impact" on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; for homes over $250,000, this increases to 98 percent.
Trees also bring indirect financial benefits to your property. Depending on the type and diameter of the tree, it’s possible to determine its financial impact in your area. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offers a link to the National Tree Benefit Calculator.
"The US Forest Service has been researching the benefits of urban trees for over twenty years. Based on that research they have been able to quantify these benefits into dollars and cents," said Jim Skiera, ISA Executive Director. "Nationally, the trees that make up the urban forest are estimated to contribute over 4 trillion dollars of benefit."
Calculating a Tree's Benefits
Using this calculator on a Dallas-based single family home, a 15-inch-diameter Blue Ash tree will give the property $117 per year in benefits. Factors include:
Stormwater savings: A tree acts as a mini-reservoir, reducing runoff and erosion by holding onto rain through its roots, leaves, branches and bark. The root system also acts as a filtration system for pollutants.
Property value: This tree will add approximately $69 in house value for 2016. The calculator uses the Leaf Surface Area (LSA) to determine this number.
Energy savings: This tree’s shading will conserve 97 kilowatt hours of electricity for cooling, and reduce oil or natural gas consumption by 4 therms. The calculator notes that where you place a tree on the property can affect savings. For instance, trees shading east and west walls keep structures cooler in the summer. Keeping trees away from the southern exposure will warm interior spaces in the winter.
Air quality improvements: Trees absorb or intercept pollutants, which is beneficial for those with health concerns such as asthma. The calculations also show how much the tree avoids pollutants by reducing energy production needs.
CO2 reduction: This tree will reduce about 496 pounds of atmospheric carbon annually. Let’s put this into perspective. The average mid-sized car puts out 11,000 pounds of CO2 per year; a flight from NY to LA to puts out 1,400 pounds per passenger. Makes you want to plant a few more trees, doesn’t it?
"As more and more research is being conducted around the world there is overwhelming evidence that trees have a direct and significant impact on human health." said Skiera. "New York City estimates they receive a net return of $5.60 for every dollar invested in tree planting and care. Indeed, trees are good."
The ISA also has a site called TreesAreGood, which offers more benefits of trees, as well as advice on basic tree care. If you’re looking to plant, check out the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Nursery database to find out what trees do well in your zip code. The foundation also has resources on where to plant. For pruning, tree care and tree advice, consult a certified arborist.
Looking for a beautiful tree-filled property? Redefy can help you find it! We’re a full-service brokerage for buyers and sellers.
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