Green Shade was approved by City Council in 2010 in conjunction with the Parks Department Tree Planning and Downtown Tree Planting initiatives, which has planted over 10,000 trees since 2010 to enhance parks and improve the City’s tree canopy.The Green Shade program incentivizes the planting of shade trees on the south, west, and east sides of air –conditioned buildings to reduce energy use. CPS Energy served as the contractor of the Green Shade program and provided administration.
This program Provides up to three $50 rebates on CPS Energy customers’ bill, one rebate per properly planted tree. Since the launch of the tree rebate program we have seen a great response. Last year in the first season from October 2010 to April 2011 residents planted 3,458 trees for an energy savings. This season from October 2011 to April 2012 we hope to plant another 4,194 trees. Green Shade has a program goal of over 7,600 trees planted.
At the conclusion of the three tree programs approved by City Council in 2010, the San Antonio Community will have added 20,000 new trees.
