BGE Launches Annual Energy Saving Trees Program & Provides more than 4,200 Free Trees to Customers through the Arbor Day Foun...
April 02 2015 - 2:00PM
Business Wire
Through a contribution of $100,000 BGE will
again provide free trees to customers in an effort to promote
energy-efficiency and make a positive impact on the
environment
Customers reminded to always call Miss
Utility at 811 before any digging or planting project
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) will kick off its
annual Energy Saving Trees Program on Monday, April 6, 2015, as
part of its ongoing efforts to enhance and promote environmental
stewardship and natural resource responsibility in communities
throughout its central Maryland service area. In its third year,
the BGE Energy Saving Trees Program is a joint effort between BGE,
the Arbor Day Foundation and Davey Institute. To date, BGE has
committed $750,000 to the program and provided more than 32,000
free trees to customers through an online tool. In addition, the
company also donated 360 trees to Baltimore City in 2014 and will
provide 150 trees to the City of Annapolis this year. Customers who
would like to receive up to two free trees from BGE are encouraged
to visit www.arborday.org/BGE on April 6 to reserve their free
trees, while supplies last.
Volunteers with the Baltimore Tree Trust
plant trees in Baltimore City provided by BGE through the BGE
Energy Saving Trees Program (Photo: Business Wire)
To protect the integrity of BGE’s infrastructure, the
interactive tool will feature an overlay of BGE overhead lines for
safe planting and choosing the appropriate tree. Customers must
agree to follow Right Tree, Right Place guidelines and plant the
trees in an energy-saving location, away from overhead power lines
and underground utilities. Customers are reminded to always call
Miss Utility at 811 to have underground utilities marked before any
digging or planting project.
“Heating and cooling typically account for nearly half of a
home’s annual energy use and studies have shown that planting the
right tree, in the right place, can help customers save up to 30
percent on their energy use throughout the year,” said Rob
Biagiotti, vice president and chief customer officer for BGE.
“Properly placed trees help keep homes cool by providing shade from
the harsh, summer sun and by slowing cold, winter winds. As part of
the BGE Energy Saving Trees Program, BGE customers can reserve up
to two free trees per customer through an online process, while
supplies last.”
Trees offered through the program include: Shadblow
Serviceberry, White Dogwood, Bald Cypress, Red Oak, Red Maple and
Eastern Redbud, which is native to Maryland. To reserve a tree, go
to www.arborday.org/BGE. The website will walk customers through a
map of their home, choosing the right tree, and will provide
guidance on where to plant the trees. Once the trees are reserved,
the 2-4-foot trees will be shipped directly to customer homes,
ready for planting. Basic tree planting educational materials, a
map of the designated planting site and information about
contacting Miss Utility at 811 prior to planting, will accompany
the tree order.
“In addition to supporting efforts to improve the quality of the
environment and promote energy efficiency, this program also
provides the added benefits of storm water runoff reduction,
improved air quality and neighborhood beautification,” said
Biagiotti.
The Energy Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day
Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of Davey Tree Expert
Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA
Forest Service’s i-Tree software to calculate estimated
benefits.
Since the program’s inception in 2013, BGE and its customers
have achieved the following environmental benefits from the BGE
Energy Saving Trees Program:
- More than 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide
sequestered or avoided
- 189 million gallons of storm water
filtered
- More than 34,000 megawatt hours
saved
- Nearly 1.4 million therms saved
For more information on BGE’s Energy Saving Trees Program, visit
www.arborday.org/BGE. To learn more about BGE’s commitment to the
environment, visit bge.com/ourcommitments/environment.
For more information on BGE’s Right Tree, Right Place program,
visit bge.com. For more information on Miss Utility and calling 811
before any digging or planting project, visit bge.com/811. For more
ways to save energy, visit bgesmartenergy.com to view BGE’s suite
of energy efficiency programs.
As part of its commitment to building strong communities in
central Maryland, BGE supports environmental enhancement
initiatives like the BGE Energy Saving Trees Program. Since its
founding nearly 200 years ago, BGE has played an integral role in
working with Maryland communities to address economic development,
public safety, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance
our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE
supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in
areas of energy efficiency and assistance, the environment,
education, economic and community development, and emergency
response and safety.
BGE’s corporate citizenship aligns with that of its parent
company, Exelon Corporation. As part of Exelon’s merger in March
2012, Exelon and its subsidiaries have committed to maintain
charitable giving of an average of $7 million per year in Maryland,
including BGE’s service area, for the next 10 years. BGE’s
commitment to the BGE Energy Saving Trees Program fulfills part of
that commitment.
BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest natural
gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.25
million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas
customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,200
employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of
natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management,
conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance.
BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s
leading competitive energy provider, with 2014 revenues of
approximately $27.4 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on
Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150402006305/en/
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE)Rachael Lighty,
rachael.lighty@bge.comBGE Media Hotline: 410-470-7433
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