Homeowners who are Avista electric customers — and who have appropriate space for a large-growing deciduous tree — can receive a free shade tree, while supplies last, through a partnership between Avista and the Arbor Day Foundation. The goal of the program is to reduce energy use for home cooling and increase the urban tree canopy.
The free tree should be planted 15 to 30 feet from the southwest corner or west side of your house and at least 50 feet from the nearest power line. Planting a deciduous tree on the southwest or west locations, where direct sunlight hits homes for the longest period of time, provides cooling shade from the leaves in the summertime and allows sunlight to warm the house through the bare branches in the wintertime.
A limited number of tree species are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the 2018 spring and fall planting season. Your selected tree will be about 2 to 3 feet tall depending on the species and will be delivered directly to your home.
To reserve your tree, check Avista’s website for the current promotion code, then visit the interactive Arbor Day website at arborday.org/avistashadetree.