Cut energy costs by 20% with free trees

For a limited time, targeted Kansas City, MO residents can qualify for up to two free trees through an Energy-Saving Trees partnership designed to help residents reduce summertime cooling bills.

Bridging the Gap (BTG), KCPL (Evergy), the U.S. Forest Service, and Arbor Day Foundation will be giving away trees from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, September 28 at KCP&L Connect, 1710 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (formerly The Paseo). Participants must register by noon on Friday, September 27 at BTG.

The program goal is to help homeowners plant trees where they can shade homes on the south and west sides. Trees planted to shade a house can reduce summer energy bills by up to 20 percent. They also provide tangible benefits for the community by improving air quality, reducing urban heat-island effect and absorbing CO2.

Trees that will be available, include: American sycamore, bald cypress, bur oak, Kentucky coffee tree, northern red oak, river birch and tulip poplar.

Residents who live in these zip codes are eligible to participate:

Photo: Bridging the Gap