Agenda - Council - 04/25/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Money Does Grow on Trees! Investing in Ramsey's Streetside Urban Forest Breathing Cleaner Air Air Quality Trees in urban areas significantly affect local and regional air quality. It is commonly known that trees release oxygen and capture carbon dioxide, but the impact of trees on urban air quality is broad and complex. Trees alter the urban atmosphere and affect air quality in cities by reducing temperatures, removing air pollutants, changing building energy use, and releasing volatile organic compounds. Using a tree inventory, city officials can improve the air quality within their cities and build healthier communities by planting tree species that reduce the formation of smog. Temperature Reduction City Street with Poor Air Quality Air temperature decreases when trees transpire and water vapor from their leaves is released into the atmosphere. By reducing air temperatures, trees provide cooler summer months. The distribution of trees also affects temperature, which is why an informed and organized tree planting plan not only contributes to a healthy and well maintained community forest, but to increased wellbeing for Ramsey's residents. Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Some tree species are better suited for congested streets as they can reduce the formation of smog. Although trees give off chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tree species differ in the amount of VOCs they emit. Cities should plan ahead to plant lower VOC-emitting trees along streets with heavy traffic. Removing Air Pollutants Trees remove air pollution by intercepting and absorbing airborne particles. The larger tree canopy cover a city has, the greater total pollution removal. Changing Building Energy Use Trees change building energy use by providing shade during the summer and blocking winds during the winter. As a building's energy use decreases, so do the pollutants being emitted. Improper tree placement can lead to higher utility bills, so Urban Forest Management allows cities to maximize a tree's energy conservation benefits. In the sunlight, VOCs mix with NOx (nitrogen oxides commonly produced by vehicles and power plants) to produce ozone, the main ingredient in Smog. Tree species with high VOC emissions (Black Gum, Sycamore, Oak Trees etc.) Trees produce VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) City Street with Good Air Quality Ground -level Ozone Vehicle exhaust produces CO2 To reduce the formation of smog, cities should plant lower VOC- emitting trees along streets with heavy traffic. Tree species with low VOC emissions (Ginkgo, Catalpa Trees etc.) 1 VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) Vehicle exhaust produces CO2 Trees Make Clean Air As the number of cars and industries in Ramsey grows, strategic tree planting initiatives could reduce carbon emissions and prevent respiratory diseases. Planting trees with low VOC emissions in congested streets ensures the amount of airborne chemicals in the atmosphere remains low. Likewise, an informed plan for tree planting guarantees economic returns for the city and its residents by raising property values. Energy + Property PA 5211 Land Use Planning • TEAM: Ada Moreno Gomez, Nick Kieser, Victoria Dan • INSTRUCTOR: Fernando Burga, Ph.D. �N�ERSTYOF��iNNEsoTA Driven ko Discover �l�ntl�L7e �lierl=rlUro�rirees on l�ii (2 7 Ip/M�vwrc�lcog/�poads/naw rse: pol Nov.p.o 1. �2.nn.ly E J HoeYr R E & c4o � E [2p137 COT�n �I�c9 nd q�..��onon h. rea. in uman and yt eas ofma Unmr0l,PO PP. PPP Pe me ed fmm 0//or o. 0ig/1C