Discover the Amazing Cooling Effect of Shade Trees

Waverly, Iowa – (July 26, 2010) The fact that it is cooler in the shade than in the sun is obvious to most people. But have you ever wondered just how much cooler it is? You’ll have a chance to investigate for yourself at a special activity planned for Wednesday, August 4 at the Bremer County Fair.

A representative from Trees Forever will be on hand from Noon to 1:30 at a booth in the 4-H building on the Fairgrounds. Participants will be able to check out a special laser thermometer to use in measuring the temperatures of shaded and unshaded surfaces in and around the fairgrounds - such as sidewalks, parking lots, and grass-covered areas. Anyone from the general public is welcome to come to the fair during the lunch hour and participate.

August 4 is Youth Day at the fair. Temperature measuring is a simple, fun activity and a great opportunity for kids and adults alike to learn about just one of the many great benefits that shade trees provide to us every day.

“Fairgoers will be asked to record their findings and return them to our booth,” says Meredith Borchardt, Trees Forever Program Manager. “We’ll compile the results and share them at an open house planned for that evening from 6-7 pm at the Waverly Public Library. Based on similar studies we’ve done in the past, I think people will be amazed to learn the results.”

The temperature experiment and open house are part of Trees Forever’s new Project trEE-O2, an initiative to help educate people about the energy-saving benefits of trees. Waverly was selected as one of ten Iowa communities to participate in Project trEE-O2, a 2-year program to promote tree planting for energy conservation and carbon sequestration.

Project trEE-O2 is funded, in part, by the Iowa Power Fund and the State Energy Program, and builds on the existing partnership with Waverly Light & Power, which funds the Waverly Trees Forever program. Trees Forever staff are assigned to work closely with community leaders and city officials to plan and plant projects that demonstrate the energy saving benefits of trees. In addition, numerous educational presentations to schools and the general public will be given throughout the course of the 2-year initiative.

For more information on Trees Forever’s Project trEE-O2, or the temperature measuring activity at the Bremer County Fair, please contact Meredith Borchardt with Trees Forever at 641-430-3854, or e-mail mborchardt@treesforever.org.