CFN – Want to save money and improve your home environment?
Free online tool allows homeowners to calculate energy savings and other ecological benefits of their trees. LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) has just launched the Ontario Residential Tree Benefits Estimator (ORTBE), an online tool designed to estimate the energy savings and other environmental benefits provided by trees. The Estimator is housed on LEAF’s website, www.yourleaf.org Research has shown that strategically placed trees provide shade and windbreak that can significantly reduce demand for air conditioning in summer and heating in winter. By preserving existing trees and planting new trees in the right locations, Ontarians can reduce their electricity bills, beautify their properties and help the environment all at the same time.
ORTBE was developed by LEAF in partnership with Dr. Andrew Millward of Ryerson University’s Urban Forest Research & Ecological Disturbance (UFRED) Group and was made possible with funding from the Ontario Power Authority’s Conservation Fund. The Estimator has the ability to both model future benefits of a newly planted tree as well as estimate the current and accumulated benefits of an existing tree. The Estimator models the number of KWh saved, the dollar value of electricity savings, the amount of CO2 sequestered, the amount of avoided CO2, as well as the number of liters of storm water diminished and kilograms of air pollution removed.
“For those homeowners contemplating a new tree for their yard, this tool will allow them to determine what species and planting location will result in the most energy savings,” said Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF. “And for those homeowners who already have trees on their property, it will allow them to find out the dollar and ecological values these trees provide.”
The Estimator calculations incorporate regionally specific climate data and electricity rates. “This tool is exciting because it is the first comprehensive residential tree benefits estimator to be developed in Canada” said Dr. Millward. “We built upon research conducted in the United States, and developed an estimator with outputs that are uniquely tailored to 27 cities across Ontario.”
“We wanted the tool to be free and accessible to everyone” concluded McKay. “It’s a fun way to estimate the benefits your trees can provide and we hope it will encourage people to protect the trees they have and plant new ones!” Anyone can access and use the Estimator by visiting the LEAF website at www.yourleaf.org
Submitted Photo of Dr. Andrew Millward of Ryerson University and Janet McKay, Executive Director of LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) using the newly released Ontario Residential Tree Benefits Estimator on an iPad to measure the energy savings and ecological benefits of a mature maple tree in Toronto’s urban forest. FOR MORE INFORMATION about LEAF and ORTBE kindly contact Kyle Ferguson, Manager, Marketing and Communications, 416-413-9244 x 16 (w) 416-819-5631 (c) | kyle@yourleaf.org
LEAF is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and improvement of the urban forest. LEAF engages citizens in urban forest stewardship through planting, education and training. Since 1996, LEAF has helped residents plant more than 17,000 trees and shrubs. For more information, or to get involved, visit yourleaf.org
Your commentary is encouraged and always welcome below or to earthmatters@cornwallfreenews.com
Tree huggers at their best!!
Where would we be without Pastor Newton’s posts?
I gather that he, or his god, doesn’t approve of trees or the people trying to protect them. It’s hard to imagine that any god, mythical or otherwise, would have a hate on for trees.
Pastor Newton…
“Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”~Revelation 7-3~
“Ne faites point de mal à la terre, ni à la mer, ni aux arbres, jusqu’à ce que nous ayons marqué du sceau le front des servi-teurs de notre Dieu.”~Apocalypse 7-3~
Jacqueline Milner: such a verse describes a time to come when God will judge this earth for all forms of rebellion and idolatry. The same book writes – Rev 8:7 “When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood and thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up”.
How about including this verse also – Exo 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. Putting anything or any person before sincere and Holy Spirit worship of the One and True God is idolatry. And of course no idolator will enter heaven!
Ed writes “I gather that he, or his god, doesn’t approve of trees or the people trying to protect them”. Do those who want to protect the trees put the same zeal in saving and protecting the unborn?
Why would someone want to twist an article about the preservation of trees into an argument about abortion? What’s the connection? Next thing you know, Pastor Newton will be equating environmentalists with Sodomites! Sad, really, that a so-called “religious leader” is so willing to make such a fool of himself so often.
Ed – often those who cry the loudest, like for the injustice to seals, beavers, etc., care not about, nor cry out against the slaughter of the unborn. It is the height of hypocrisy to cry out about environmental concerns, about the slaying of animals, and the deforestation of land when there is not concern about what is done to human life. I have not heard of any environmentalist yet that is pro-life, why is that? Yes, we can be one with Mother Galia, but for our own, we are not worth saving. Kill the unborn, kill the elderly, and let the criminal get a slap on the wrist for killing another of his or kind. The devaluing of human life is a direct result of casting off God as He is revealed by person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man”( Gen 9:6).
I find Pastor Newton’s comments among some of the most intriguing on CFN. By choice, I don’t have a religion. I don’t know scripture, and I would describe myself as a person who believes women should have access to proper care when abortion is their choice. Meaning never, ever, any back-alley coat hanger jobs.
But people with conviction (like Pastor Newton), people who challenge popular ideas are v. important….even when their views make our nostrils flare.
Isn’t that in some respects what CFN is about? To offer an alternative to the porridge doled out by mainstream media? Look how offended, outraged and prejudicial people sometimes get about this publication.
I’m glad a man of the cloth participates here. We should have more. And more from different fabrics. But hopefully (forgive me) no more of the “new age” type.