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Landscaping For A Cleaner
Environment
Widespread tree planting and
climate-appropriate landscaping offer substantial environmental
benefits. Trees and vegetation control erosion, protect water
supplies, provide food, create habitat for wildlife, and clean
the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
The National Academy of Sciences
(NAS) estimates that urban America has 100 million potential
tree spaces (i.e., spaces where trees could be planted). NAS
further estimates that filling these spaces with trees and lightening
the color of dark, urban surfaces would result in annual energy
savings of 50 billion kilowatt-hours -- 25% of the 200 billion
kilowatt-hours consumed every year by air conditioners in the
United States. This would reduce electric power plant emissions
of carbon dioxide by 35 million tons (32 million metric tons)
annually and save users of utility-supplied electricity $3.5
billion each year (assuming an average of $0.07 per kilowatt-hour).
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Also, some species of trees, bushes,
and grasses require less water than others. Some species are
naturally more resistant to pests, so they require less pesticides.
Another alternative to pesticides is integrated pest management,
an emerging field that uses least-toxic pest control strategies.
One example is to introduce certain insects such as praying mantises
or ladybugs to feed on -- and limit populations of -- landscape-consuming
pests. |
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Certain grasses, such as buffalo
grass and fescue, only grow to a certain height -- roughly 6
inches (15 centimeters) and are water thrifty. By using these
species, you can eliminate the fuel, water, and time consumption
associated with lawn mowing, watering, and trimming. Also, recent
studies have found that gasoline-powered mowers, edge trimmers,
and leaf blowers contribute to air pollution.
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