Contact Information John Begeman urban horticulture agent 520-626-5161 jbegeman@ag.arizona.edu

A program to shade local homes with trees has saved homeowners who planted them more than a third of a million dollars in cooling bills.

Studies show that trees do more than just decorate your yard. A properly shaded home can reduce energy consumption by as much as 20 percent. Which is why the Pima County Cooperative Extension in Tucson and Trico Electric Cooperative are distributing shade trees at reduced prices to residents for energy conservation.

The program, known as “Operation Cool Shade,” began in 1997 when Trico and Pima County Extension began distributing shade trees to in neighborhoods. A requirement of the program was that homeowners plant trees in locations around the house to ensure maximum shading. The residents received training from Extension on correct placement, planting and care of trees, says John Begeman, an urban horticulture agent with the Extension.

Tree species have included desert willow, eldarica pine, blue palo verde, mesquite and live oak. Trico customers are eligible to receive up to three five-gallon trees at about $5 each.

Extension master gardeners were trained to help program participants select, place, plant and care for their shade trees. Master Gardener volunteers conducted four workshops and staffed a tree planting and care answer booth at the tree distribution day hosted at Trico's headquarters in Tucson. Trico employees subsequently went out to check on the health of the trees. Follow-up information and assistance with tree care has been provided by the Pima County Cooperative Extension.

In all, a total of 7,698 Operation Cool Shade trees have been distributed to 3,330 residential customer properties over the last five years. To date, the total projected savings for all Operation Cool Shade participants during the peak summer period of July, August and September alone has been $376,916.

The program is continuing during this fall, and according to Trico officials, is the most popular public service program the electric cooperative offers. Each year the number of participants exceeds the capacity of the program, and the waiting list is growing.