The National Forest Foundation is running a campaign to plant 50 million trees in US National Forests. Planting trees does more than invest in healthy forests. Trees absorb one metric ton (MT) of CO2e for every two trees planted, produce oxygen, sequester carbon, stabilize soil, protect watersheds, provide habitat for wildlife, and help fight global climate change.
As we celebrate Earth Day, we wanted to do more than just pay lip service to the ideals of the day. Mead & Hunt has donated funds to the National Forest Foundation to plant a tree for every employee. We encourage everyone who can to make additional donations for their families. The average American carbon footprint is 20 MT CO2e per year. To offset that amount would take 40 trees!
Other ways to help
- Purchase carbon offsets for your specific carbon footprint for annual home energy use, vehicle and airline travel, etc.
- Install a rain garden at your home, or convert your lawn into a meadow.
- Plant pollinator-friendly native flowers in your gardens. Contact your local nursery for plantings appropriate to your climate zone.
- Volunteer for your local city-wide clean-up. This helps protects your watershed from pollutants.
- Contact your local utility company or non-profit for a Home Energy Audit. Crossing off a few easy to do items on the improvements list will save you money on your utility bill and decrease your CO2e emissions.
As we face global climate change, it can feel like a monumental task to overcome its effects on our planet. There are many small ways individuals can help. We in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry also have a responsibility to incorporate climate-friendly solutions into our work in order to help fight global climate change. We at Mead & Hunt are ready to take on this challenge.
