There are many benefits that trees provide to your home, neighbourhood and community. Planting trees can impact the value, the costs and the safety of where you live. Trees are an asset, and their value increases over time!
Make sure to plant trees in your yard and in your neighbourhood to build a more vibrant and healthy environment!
Safety
Well-treed streets encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic and improve a sense of safety. Tree-lined streets slow traffic. Children are also more likely to walk to school on well-treed streets.
Study after study shows that well-treed communities are safer and healthier.
Using data from Toronto, a team of researchers has found that having 10 more trees on your block has self-reported health benefits akin to a $10,000 salary raise or moving to a neighbourhood with a $10,000 higher median income or being seven years younger.
– The Star, 2015
Health
Shade from trees cools your yard, making it more pleasant to eat, play, work, and relax outside. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, and trees protect our skin while we are outside by reducing UV exposure.
Environment
Trees store carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the air. They remove dust and particulates, and they absorb ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants from our air. Trees clean water by filtering runoff and sediment from slopes next to streams, and they recharge groundwater.
Planting trees can restore critically needed habitat. Trees provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees and other wildlife. Trees can attract a diversity of wildlife with the food, cover and nest sites that they supply.
Community
Planting trees is a great way to empower and instill community involvement within a neighbourhood. Trees bring diverse groups of people together and provide a space for retreat.
Value
A well-treed lot can increase your property value by as much as 20% and help to beautify your neighbourhood streetscape. Once you start digging, you’ll find your neighbours will too!
Cost
Deciduous trees planted on the south and west side of a home can decrease your cooling costs by up to 50%. Evergreen trees that are planted as wind breakers around homes can decrease your heating costs by as much at 30%.