Tree-Planting Effort Aims to Save Energy

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will launch a tree-planting program this spring that will provide cooling shade and energy savings to its customers.

At an estimated annual cost of $4 million, the DWP will provide 100,000 mature, drought-tolerant trees to city residents over the next few years.

DWP studies have found that strategically planted trees can provide energy efficiency benefits such as reduced air-conditioning needs, and that walls shaded by trees are generally 15 degrees cooler than unshaded walls.

Workshops for the new program will be held in each council district beginning in April, spokewoman Sandra Escobar said. Residents will be required to pay for half the cost of the tree as well as the planting.

For details, call (800) GREEN LA (473-3652).