This year, our initiative focused on strategic partnerships with Trees Louisville, Trees Lexington!, and Lexington Friends Meeting. Together, we planted 102 trees in Louisville’s historic Smoketown neighborhood and across Lexington’s Northside, William Wells Brown, and Masterson Station neighborhoods. Urban tree canopy assessments that rank neighborhoods based on their percentage of tree canopy informed our efforts and helped us determine where new trees could make the most impact.
Environmental challenges, such as the urban heat island effect, air quality degradation, and water quality issues with our waterways necessitate urgent action. Studies reveal that Louisville is experiencing accelerated temperature rises, particularly in lower-income urban neighborhoods like Smoketown. Similarly, Lexington faces the imperative to enhance its urban tree canopy to help combat known water quality issues.
The urban heat island effect, caused by concentrated infrastructure, which can raise urban temperatures up to seven degrees, underscores the importance of intentional urban tree canopy building. Our tree planting efforts contribute to:
Utilizing the National Tree Benefit Calculator we quantified the benefits of our tree planting efforts. Over the next twenty years, with proper care and maintenance, the 102 trees planted this season could offset nearly a quarter million miles worth of CO2 emitted from the average gas-powered passenger vehicle , absorb enough stormwater to fill over 32,000 bathtubs, and remove an amount of pollution from the air – in gaseous and particulate form – equivalent in weight to over 1,800 smartphones!
Just one of the 2-inch caliper red oaks planted in the Northside Neighborhood is projected to intercept 8,873 gallons of rainfall, and avoid 552 gallons of stormwater runoff. The same tree will sequester 552 pounds of carbon, reduce electricity consumption by 731 kilowatts, and increase property values.
Klausing Group's impact extends beyond landscape services; it resonates in the communities we serve. Our commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community well-being reflects in our ethos. By planting trees and fostering sustainable practices, we envision a future where our cities are more livable, healthy, safe, and equitable for generations to come.
Join us on our journey towards a more sustainable and vibrant Kentucky.