City Trees

November/December 2015

City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!

Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/599208

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16 City Trees It is often said that utility vegetation management (UVM) is, or should be, an integral part of the green industry. Does what we do really fit the current under- standing of green industry, though? The Connecticut Department of Labor, similar to other state and federal agencies, defines green industry as "producing a prod- uct or service that contribute[s] directly to preserving and enhancing the quality of the environment." Does this fit the objectives of the UVM industry? Not current- ly. Our objectives need to change, or our resources will be wasted, and our industry will continue to struggle for legitimacy and respect. If UVM doesn't reinvent itself as an ally to the green industry to benefit the environment, it is in danger of becoming solely classified as industrial and toxic. In fact, it is already considered so by some people and media organizations. Our roughly 45,000 industry professionals are well trained, disciplined, and ready to be mobilized for emer- gency or routine care of any type of vegetation in prac- tically any condition. This is a needed resource, and we shouldn't waste it on hammering the same trees over and over until decay does the rest. Treetilization is a new model for tomorrow's UVM—or better said, tomorrow's green corridor management. It is a term for the transformation of the UVM industry from a singular focus on reliability of the electric grid to a focus on cultivating and protecting the many environ- mental benefits possible within and adjacent to distribu- tion and transmission rights-of-way (ROW). Treetilization is a theoretical model of how ROW and land adjacent to ROW could be managed if the culture, the regula- tions, and the objectives of UVM were realigned to fit the current impetus to manage our environment sus- tainably for future generations. There are quite a few concepts and trends that tie into treetilization and should be considered when architect- ing the new UVM. Building Standards The rating systems and new standards for built infra- structure that have been recognized by state and federal agencies are creeping into the space where UVM exists. Standards, such as the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), LEED for Neighborhood Development, Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal Program (PEER), WELL Building Standard, and the Green Building Initiative (GBI) are various forms of rating systems for sustainable power systems and are quickly becoming the new normal. Additionally, new programs are developing that focus even more on the non-built environment's tie into built infrastructure. Examples include the Sustainable SITES Initiative, the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), conservation easements, the Arbor Day Foundation's Energy-Saving Trees program, and the ROW Stewardship Accreditation Program. Private Property Private property owners also have a changing mindset. There is an upwelling of environmental consciousness. Landowners are getting more informed on the rules and standards for protecting the environment. More impor- tantly, they are realizing that environmental protection Utility Arborist Association Treetilization: A Model for Transforming UVM into a Green Industry Story and photos by Will Porter, Director of Consulting, CN Utility Consulting Previously published in the July/August 2015 UAA Newsline. A magnificent tree line today, but is it sustainable? Partner Update

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