DATE: Thursday, May 15, 1997                TAG: 9705150453

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   52 lines

CHESAPEAKE HEARS BENEFIT OF TREES TOLD BY SOFTWARE

In the same way a big oak provides a sojourner with cool respite from the summer sun, it can offer enough shade for a house, school building or city hall to reduce energy consumption.

That same tree also can help manage storm water, cleanse ground water and clear the air of pollutants and gases.

Now, computer technology can document how much trees - better known for their looks than their function - save in city and homeowners' budgets.

CITYgreen, a software program developed about a year ago by the national conservation group American Forests, was demonstrated to Chesapeake city officials Wednesday. It uses satellite images from the Geographic Information System, aerial photographs and other data to show how trees benefit a city or a neighborhood.

The software shows existing trees and analyzes how new trees or different kinds of trees could add to an area's savings during the next 30 years as they mature.

Gail Bradshaw, the special programs coordinator for the city's Parks, Recreation and Building Maintenance Department, brought in American Rivers to demonstrate the software to staffers from several other city departments that plan public facilities or approve private development.

``I like getting the idea out that trees not only look good but are good for the budget,'' said Bradshaw, who is in charge of city environmental programs.

Virginia Beach and Oceana Naval Air Station and about 100 other cities or organizations have already purchased the software, according to American Forests.

Chris Daniel, who presented the software for American Forests, said, however, that not all trees provide maximum benefits. He said the trees must be the right kind and must be planted in appropriate locations. About 70 percent of trees are planted in the wrong place to provide shade in the summer and protection from the wind in the winter, he said.

``Cities and groups can use the software to visualize the natural ecosystem and factor it into their planning,'' Daniel said.

According to the group, CITYgreen analysis shows:

Trees in Austin, Texas, reduce storm water by 28 percent and save $122 million in storm water control measures;

Trees in Atlanta produce more than $600 million in storm water management savings and store about 475,000 tons of carbon, an abundant greenhouse gas;

Trees in Dade County, Fla., produce $5.3 million in direct summer energy savings to homes, and if palms were replaced by oaks the savings would increase by 20 percent.

Bradshaw said Chesapeake officials may seek grant money to pay for the technology. KEYWORDS: TREES

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