Riverside Public Utilities Shade Tree Planting Program Surpasses 100,000 Tree Mark

RIVERSIDE, Calif., July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After ten years of providing free shade trees to Riverside residents, which help reduce energy usage, beautify the city, and lower green house gases, Riverside Public Utilities' (RPU) "Tree Power" program has surpassed the milestone of providing more than 100,000 trees to its customers.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070427/LAF045LOGO)

In fact, with the closing of its annual free shade tree coupon promotion last month, the program has now provided a total of 102,768 shade trees that are estimated to save more than 16.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity and offset more than 20.2 million pounds of green house gas emissions annually.

"This is a terrific milestone to reach," said Riverside's Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge. "Riverside has long been known for its beautiful canopy of trees, and this program has helped get the word out to our residents and businesses on the many benefits that shade trees provide them, their community, and their environment."

RPU's Tree Power public benefits program encourages Riverside electric customers to plant shade trees around their properties that help to curb their energy use. Well placed trees around a structure can reduce air conditioning and cooling costs by as much as 20 percent.

Through their highly anticipated annual "free shade tree coupon" program, RPU gives out more than 12,000 trees annually. This year, 12,638 free trees were planted. For more information on RPU's Tree Power shade tree program, visit GreenRiverside.com.

Established in 1895, Riverside Public Utilities is a consumer-owned water and electric utility governed by a board of nine community volunteers that provides high quality, reliable services to over 106,000 metered electric customers and up to 64,000 metered water customers throughout the City of Riverside.  The Utility is committed to increased use of renewable energy resources and sustainable living practices that help reduce environmental impacts within the City of Riverside and the state of California.

www.RiversidePublicUtilities.com       www.GreenRiverside.com      www.BlueRiverside.com

SOURCE Riverside Public Utilities