The City of Riverside launched the “Tree Power Program” in 2001 to increase its urban forest and help its residents save electricity and money. Well-placed trees not only provide shade that can reduce cooling costs by as much as 30 percent17, they also remove air pollution and absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Through the Tree Power Program, the city offered one free shade tree per year to residents, and a $25 rebate per tree for the purchase of up to five more.

Riverside residents planted more than 100,000 trees during the first ten years of the program which resulted in over $500,000 of direct economic investment in local nurseries. It is estimated that activities associated with the Tree Power Program account for a decrease of 16.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity and 9,160 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Trees Planted: 102,768

Energy Savings: 16.2 million kilowatt hours

Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 9,160 metric tons