Frequently asked questions
How are the energy benefits calculated?
Simply stated, iTree research has provided an algorithm that takes into consideration the following factors: tree species, tree size in year 20,
climate zone, the tree's distance from the home, the size of the home, and the insulation values for the home. Once all these factors are taken
into consideration, the formula produces an estimated energy savings, in dollars. All figures shown are the benefits of a tree at its point of
maturity, approximately 20 years.
For a more in-depth description, see
our FAQ page for research citations.
How do homeowners receive the trees?
Each customer reserves his or her tree(s) through an online system. As for the delivery method, you have two options for distributing the trees
to your customers or employees. One is the direct ship method, in which the Arbor Day Foundation ships each tree order individually to the address
that your customer/employee provides upon checkout. This method is ideal for large territories and when convenience is critical.
The other method is hosting a local pickup event—either your company or a partnering organization hosts an event(s) at a convenient central location
where each participant claims their tree(s) in person. The Arbor Day Foundation will ship the trees in bulk to the pre-determined location(s) and
provide the organizers of the event with a summary report of the tree orders. This method is useful for smaller territories, for times when additional
educational outreach is desired, and/or if you are interested in offering larger trees.
How do I know which trees species to choose?
Upon your enrollment in the Energy-Saving Trees program, we will reach out to the state foresters and state coordinators in your proposed region to
compile a list of the best species for that climate and hardiness zone. From there, your company's preference and availability of stock will determine
what the program can provide. In order to best serve your customers/employees, we like to offer some combination of small, medium, and large landscape
trees for all types of residential yards.
Step Four of this application will ask you to indicate your preferred tree species for your Energy-Saving Trees program—this is intended to get an idea
of what you'd like to offer, but will not be final upon your application submission. The Arbor Day Foundation will be in contact with you shortly
thereafter to make final arrangements.
How do customers know where to plant the trees for maximum energy savings?
An integral part of the Energy-Saving Trees program is the online tool—each participant puts in their address and maps his/her house, then uses a
tree icon to determine the areas around the property that yield the greatest energy savings. The tool incorporates our "Right Tree, Right Place"
planting guide and provides visual cues to the participants as to where to best site the tree. The participant then chooses the tree species s/he
would like to plant and proceeds to the checkout phase of the tool.
How much will this program cost?
Excellent question! That depends on several factors: the tree types, tree size at the time of shipment, tree availability, and the delivery method.
For the direct ship method, the program costs around $20-30 per tree. Because it is not cost efficient to ship large trees, the direct ship method
usually dictates that the trees be around 4 to 6 feet in height. For the local pickup method, the program can cost anywhere from $10 per tree to
$100 per tree (depending on the size of the tree you wish to offer).
We ask for your approximate budget in step two of the application process simply to better understand your parameters for the program. Again,
nothing is irreversible until we contact you after receiving your application to determine final arrangements.
Why do I have to upload zip codes?
Different trees species flourish in different climate and hardiness zones—that is to say, a tree native to northern Maine may not grow well
(or even survive) in western Texas. Zip codes are the strongest indicator of climate and hardiness zones that we have. Thus, we need zip codes
to determine what trees can be offered in your region.
Why do I have to provide my company's account numbers?
This verification method is optional, but, where appropriate, it can provide you with more confidence that you're only sending trees to the
desired recipients. If your company is uncomfortable disclosing account numbers, we can use partial account numbers (i.e. first 5 digits,
last seven digits, etc.). This verification method is optional.
Does the Arbor Day Foundation provide customer support?
Absolutely. That option is available on step six of the application. If you opt for our customer support, we train our call center
team to know the specifics of your program (number of trees per customer, launch date, tree species offered, etc.) and assist any callers
in the online tree reservation process. We assign your company a unique, toll-free number, so that we may track every call—and provide a
summary report at the end of the program.
Will the Arbor Day Foundation help with marketing the program?
Certainly. We have templates for email blasts to customers, social media posts, press releases, newspaper articles, newsletter articles,
and more. Depending on your audience, we will work with you to customize your outreach approach in order to make your Energy-Saving Trees
program a success. You can indicate which marketing materials you'd like to try on step two of the application process.
