NIPSCO Offering Free Trees to Customers through Arbor Day Foundation Program

nipsco-arbor-dayUtility reminds customers to always call 811 before planting trees or any digging project

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is providing 375 free trees to customers through Energy-Saving Trees, an Arbor Day Foundation program that helps conserve energy and reduce energy bills through strategic tree planting.

Starting today, NIPSCO electric customers can reserve their free trees at www.arborday.org/nipsco. An online tool helps customers estimate the annual energy savings that will result from planting trees in the most strategic location near their homes or businesses. Customers can reserve up to two trees and are expected to plant and care for them in the location provided by the online tool. The types of trees offered include the following: Eastern Redbud, Northern Red Oak, Red Maple, River Birch and White Flowering Dogwood.

The program will continue until all 375 trees are reserved. The two-to-four foot tall trees will be delivered directly to customers at an ideal time for planting.

Before starting any digging projects, NIPSCO reminds customers to always remember to call 811, the free national safe digging hotline, to have their underground utility lines marked. Online requests can be made at www.811now.com.

The “Energy-Saving Trees” online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree software to calculate estimated benefits. In addition to providing approximate energy savings, the tool also estimates the trees’ other benefits, including cleaner air, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improved storm water management.