A healthy tree is much more than a pretty part of the yard. Trees provide shade, lower energy costs, manage rainwater, support wildlife and improve air quality. They may also increase property value and support our physical and mental health. These benefits are especially important in Northwest Florida. Our long, hot summers make shade valuable. Our heavy rain makes stormwater control important. Trees also give birds, pollinators and other wildlife places to feed and live.

Trees Are Good for Our Minds

Have you ever sat under a tree and felt more relaxed? There is a reason for that. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that green spaces can lower stress and mental tiredness. Green areas may also help reduce anxiety and depression. They give people pleasant places to walk, rest and spend time with family and neighbors. UF/IFAS reports that time around trees may help lower feelings of anger, confusion and fatigue. Even seeing trees through a window may improve a person’s sense of well-being. A shade tree can turn a hot, empty yard into a place where people want to sit, play or garden.

Trees Are Good for Our Bodies

Trees can also support physical health. Studies have linked time in green spaces with lower heart rate and blood pressure. Spending time around trees may also support the immune system. Shade is another important health benefit. Summer heat indexes in Northwest Florida often climb above 100°F. Tree shade can make outdoor activity safer and more comfortable. EPA reports that urban forests average about 3°F cooler than areas without trees and other plants. Shaded pavement and other surfaces may be 20°F to 45°F cooler than the same materials in full sun. Trees also help clean the air. Their leaves and bark can trap dust and some air pollutants.

Trees Can Save Money

A healthy tree is not only attractive. It may also provide real financial value.

Lower energy bills

Trees can shade walls, windows and roofs. This can lower the amount of electricity needed to cool a home. UF/IFAS reports that tree shade may reduce cooling electricity use by 10% to 50%. The actual savings depend on the amount of shade, the size and location of the trees, and the design of the home. Another study cited by UF/IFAS found that a typical shade tree reduced total electrical use by about 4%. A tree that provided heavy shade reduced electrical use by about 9%. What could that mean in dollars? If a household spends $200 per month on electricity, the yearly cost is $2,400.

A 4% savings would equal about $96 per year.
A 9% savings would equal about $216 per year.
Over 20 years, that could equal about $1,920 to $4,320, not counting changes in electric rates.

These savings are examples, not guarantees. A young tree provides little shade at first. The savings may grow as the tree becomes larger. A UF/IFAS study of residential trees in Gainesville estimated that the trees provided about $1,897,500 in yearly heating and cooling benefits across the city. Some tree shade also increased winter heating costs by about $367,290. The estimated net benefit was about $1,530,210 per year. These were citywide estimates based on older electric rates. They show why tree location matters, but they should not be used as a promise of current savings for one home.

Higher property value

Healthy trees can make a home and neighborhood more attractive. UF/IFAS reports that tree canopy has been linked with home-value increases of up to 10%.

Here are a few examples:

A 5% increase on a $250,000 home would equal $12,500.
A 10% increase on a $250,000 home would equal $25,000.
A 5% increase on a $350,000 home would equal $17,500.
A 10% increase on a $350,000 home would equal $35,000.
A 5% increase on a $500,000 home would equal $25,000.
A 10% increase on a $500,000 home would equal $50,000.

These numbers are examples. They do not mean that one tree will automatically add that amount to a home’s selling price. The value depends on the tree’s size, health, species and location. Local housing conditions also matter. A healthy tree may add value, while a dangerous or damaged tree may lower value and lead to removal costs.

Billions of dollars in statewide benefits

UF/IFAS researchers estimate that Florida’s urban trees provide about $4 billion in benefits each year. This total includes the value of cleaner air, less stormwater runoff and carbon storage. Homeowners do not receive this money as a payment. It shows that trees provide services that would otherwise cost communities money.

Trees Help Manage Rainwater

A tree acts a little like an umbrella during a storm. Its leaves and branches slow falling rain. Its roots take up water and help it soak into the soil. EPA reports that urban trees can absorb 15% to 27% of annual rainfall that might otherwise become runoff. UF/IFAS estimates that Florida’s urban forests reduce stormwater runoff by about 50 billion gallons each year. Reducing runoff helps keep fertilizer, pesticides, pet waste, soil and other pollutants out of storm drains, creeks, bays and the Gulf of Mexico. Tree roots also help hold soil in place. This can reduce erosion.

Trees Remove Carbon Dioxide

Trees use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. They store carbon in their trunks, branches, roots and leaves. Carbon dioxide and carbon are related, but they are not the same measurement. Carbon dioxide contains carbon plus oxygen. One pound of stored carbon represents about 3.67 pounds of carbon dioxide removed from the air.

EPA estimates that a medium-growth tree in an urban area will average:

About 36 pounds of carbon stored each year
About 133 pounds of carbon dioxide removed each year
About 364 pounds of carbon stored over 10 years
About 1,330 pounds of carbon dioxide removed over 10 years

These are average estimates. A tree’s actual carbon benefit depends on its species, age, size, health, growth rate and growing conditions. Small trees remove less carbon than large, healthy trees. Protecting mature trees is also important because they have already stored carbon in their trunks, branches and roots. Tree shade provides another climate benefit. When shade lowers electricity use, it may also reduce carbon dioxide released by power plants.

Trees Support Wildlife

Trees provide food, shelter and nesting places for many animals. Birds may eat a tree’s fruits or seeds. Pollinators may visit its flowers. Bats may use tree cavities or loose bark for shelter. Frogs, lizards and beneficial insects may live around the roots and fallen leaves. Native trees can be especially valuable because local wildlife has used them for food and shelter for many years. Trees may also reduce the need for some pest control. Birds, bats, frogs and beneficial insects feed on many insects found in landscapes.

Trees Make Communities More Comfortable

The benefits of trees extend beyond one yard. Tree-lined areas can be cooler and more pleasant for walking. Trees can soften traffic noise and provide a sense of privacy. They can make streets and neighborhoods feel more welcoming. EPA reports that green spaces may help build stronger ties between neighbors. Parks, shaded streets and other green areas give people places to meet and spend time together. Trees are also part of a community’s green infrastructure. Just as roads and drainage systems provide important services, trees help manage rainwater, cool the air and improve water quality.

A Long-Term Investment

A healthy tree may provide benefits for many years. Depending on its size and location, a mature tree may help save about $96 to $216 per year in electricity costs under the study example. Healthy tree canopy may be linked with thousands of dollars in added property value. An average urban tree may also remove about 133 pounds of carbon dioxide per year during its first 10 years. At the same time, it can reduce runoff, provide shade and support wildlife. These figures are estimates, not guarantees. The benefits depend on the tree’s size, health, species, age and location. A healthy tree is more than part of the landscape. It is an investment in your home, your health and the future of Northwest Florida.

Okaloosa County

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