Two North Liberty Schools to Save Energy by Planting Trees

North Liberty, Iowa – (May 2, 2010) – Two schools in North Liberty will be planting trees this week in an effort to conserve energy and improve the environment. Students at North Central Junior High will be planting shade trees on Tuesday, May 3, and North Bend Elementary School students and staff will be planting a windbreak on Thursday, May 5.

The two planting events are being coordinated by Trees Forever, and both projects are being funded by the Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC). Linn County REC provides electric service to both of the schools.

Details on the May 5 planting event follows:

WHAT: North Bend Elementary School - Windbreak Tree Planting Event

WHEN: Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. (Rain Date - 5/12/11)
Brief presentation at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: North Bend Elementary School
2230 St. Andrews Drive, North Liberty, IA

WHO:

• Students & Staff of North Bend Elementary School
• Trees Forever staff & volunteers
• Linn County REC Staff

SPEAKERS:

• Shannon Ramsay, Founding President, Trees Forever
• Kim Colberg, General Manager/CEO, Linn County REC
• Brenda Parker, Principal, North Bend Elementary
• Mark Pingenot, Field Coordinator/Arborist, Trees Forever

WHY: North Bend Elementary Students and staff will plant nearly 100 trees to establish a large windbreak to help protect the school building from cold winter winds and blowing snow. This will help to reduce heating energy costs and snow-removal costs at the school. Linn County REC provides electric service to the school, and is funding this project to help provide energy-saving and environmental benefits to the school. Trees Forever staff coordinated project planning and are coordinating the tree planting event. The windbreak trees for this planting project were obtained through Kelly Tree Farm near Clarence, IA.