Trees cool the city
Buildings and parking lots take the place of more trees each year in urban heat islands.
Summer in the city can be hot and noisy. Trees provide shade and help cool the urban heat island. Areas with heavy tree cover can be at least two to four degrees cooler during summer. The cooling effect of trees helps lower energy costs and reduces pollution.
Trees also act as a buffer to absorb noise in the city. A 100 foot wide and 45 foot tall patch of trees can reduce noise levels by 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
In a city where the atmosphere can be rough and even unfriendly at times, studies show trees enhance relaxation, well-being and community. Human-environment researchers at the University of Illinois studied how contact with trees influenced the lives of people living in Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes, the largest public housing development in the world. The researchers found that people gathered in common spaces that contained trees significantly more often than they gathered in spaces that had no trees. They found that the urban forest provides a setting for neighbors to get to know one another. They build stronger relationships among themselves and develop a support system that provides alternatives to violence. Indeed, the study revealed that people who live near trees have significantly less violence in their homes than people who live in places without trees.
That's EarthCare for today and a better tomorrow.