MAYS LANDING – Atlantic City Electric is providing 1,175 free trees to residential customers through the Energy-Saving Trees program, an initiative that helps customers conserve energy and reduce household energy bills through strategic tree planting. For the seventh year, Atlantic City Electric is taking part in this important environmental program. Customers can reserve one free tree per household by visiting www.arborday.org/ace. Customers should have their Atlantic City Electric account number handy when ordering the free tree.
The one-gallon, two- to four-foot potted tree will be delivered directly to customers while supplies last. Available tree species include bald cypress, river birch and white dogwood.
“We are pleased to once again support this important program that both benefits the environment and helps beautify the communities we serve,” said Susan Coan, Atlantic City Electric region vice president. “This program can also help our customers save money on their cooling expenses as trees provide shade for the home in the summer months.”
Shade trees can reduce residential cooling costs by up to 30 percent, while in the winter months trees reduce wind speeds and infiltration of cold air into homes, thereby reducing heating costs. The Arbor Day Foundation calculates that the 1,175 trees are estimated to produce nearly $380,000in energy savings within 20 years for Atlantic City Electric customers.
The Energy-Saving Trees online tool assists Atlantic City Electric customers in finding the most strategic location for planting and estimates the annual savings. Customers using the on-line tool can call the Arbor Day Foundation for technical help at 1-855-670-2773.
The online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of the Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree Software to calculate estimated benefits.
Atlantic City Electric reminds customers to know what’s below and call 811 to have utility-owned underground lines marked before digging. One free call to 811 connects you to New Jersey One Call, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811.
To learn more, visit www.atlanticcityelectric.com.