Lakeland Electric offers free trees to customers through Energy-Saving Trees program

The Arbor Day Foundation program helps utility providers distribute free trees to their customers and the knowledge of where best to plant them

Lakeland, Fla. (May 10, 2022) – Starting today, Lakeland Electric is providing free trees for customers to reserve and have mailed to their homes.

The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's largest membership nonprofit dedicated to planting trees. Its Energy-Saving Trees program helps utility providers distribute free trees to their customers while providing the knowledge of where best to plant them.

Lakeland Electric customers can reserve their free trees at https://energysavingtrees.arborday.org/. The "Energy-Saving Trees" online tool shares the annual energy savings that will result from planting trees in the most strategic location near customers' homes or businesses. Customers can reserve one tree and plant them in the most strategic area as identified by the online mapping tool. The program will continue until all of the trees are reserved. Trees will be delivered directly to customers at an ideal time for planting.

"This program enables utility providers an opportunity to become directly involved with their communities," said Kristen Bousquet, program manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. "This unique program benefits utility providers, their customers and the communities they serve by finding natural ways to conserve energy. The right trees in the right place can help a homeowner save up to 30 percent on their electric bill."

The 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 environmental benefits. In addition to providing approximate energy savings, the tool estimates the trees' other benefits, including cleaner air, reduced carbon emissions and filtered stormwater.

About the Arbor Day Foundation
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About Lakeland Electric
Lakeland Electric is the third-largest public power utility in the State of Florida, serving 137,000 customers within 246 square miles. The utility has a net generation capability of 843 Megawatts. The utility is one of the first utilities established in Florida, having begun operation in 1889. It was purchased by the City of Lakeland in 1904. Lakeland Electric's mission is to provide its customers with affordable, dependable and sustainable electric services.