CARTER SUBARU'S CARBON NEUTRAL PROJECT
Planting a Forest….. One Test Drive at a Time
Climate change is a serious global issue caused largely when carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels. But there are things we can do about this important issue, like working toward carbon neutrality. Our commitment to doing something that off sets the 150+ cars that we sell monthly is our Carbon Neutral Project.
For each car test-driven at Carter Subaru, one tree will be planted in the Mountains to Sound Greenway, funded by Carter Motors. For each car purchased, three additional trees will be planted. So, if you test drive a car and buy it there will be four trees planted in the Greenway!
The idea is simple, to offset a year of the carbon emissions of your car, 4 trees have been planted (1 at your test drive and 3 upon purchase). Those trees will live their lives here locally in the Mountains to Sound Greenway, and will actively be absorbing tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Over their lives (average life of 70 years for Northwest trees), these 4 trees will absorb one year of carbon emissions of a car getting 21 miles to the gallon that is driven 12,000 miles.
Other benefits of the trees:
- In addition to neutralizing greenhouse gases, these trees will also provide critical wildlife habitat.
- These trees will also help in water storage. Forests act as sponges in times of heavy rain or snow, absorbing and then slowly releasing water, a critical function in decreasing flooding downstream.
- This reduction in flooding helps protect fragile Northwest salmon habitat. Additionally, trees planted along streams and rivers help cool the water temperatures in these waterways to levels that keep salmon healthy.
- Forested hillsides are a vital part of our Northwest identity. Through this partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway, we are ensuring that we will have permanently protected forests right on the edge of our cities for future generations. These forests are places where we will be able to hike and play forever.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway is the scenic, historic and recreation corridor along Interstate 90. This landscape stretches 100 miles from the Seattle waterfront through forests and rugged mountains to the edge of desert grasslands in Central Washington. This diverse landscape of over 1.4 million acres includes more than 750,000 acres of publicly owned forests, parks and open spaces. The Greenway includes areas such as Tiger Mountain, Mount Si, Snoqualmie Falls, the Cedar River Watershed, Snoqualmie Pass and the historic towns of Roslyn and Cle Elum.
In addition to acquiring key connecting parcels of forestland in the Greenway, the non-profit Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust builds trails and restores damaged natural areas within the corridor. The Greenway Trust is helping to ensure permanent protection for this magnificent corridor through its education program, Seeking Solutions, its Volunteer Program where groups help restore and improve these lands, and by holding its summer Greenway Days festival to entice urban dwellers out to enjoy the Greenway.
Tree Planting Details:
- Trees will be planted in the fall of each year in the Greenway corridor. Trees will be planted on public open space lands managed by local cities, King County, Washington State and the US Forest Service. Just a few examples of sites planted in past years by the Greenway Trust have been Lake Sammamish State Park, Snoqualmie Point Park, Issaquah Creek, Meadowbrook and Tollgate Farms and on old logging roads near Snoqualmie Pass.
- Over 15 species of Northwest Native Trees will be planted, including Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Red Alder and Western Hemlock.
- The Greenway Trust will coordinate the planting each fall and hosts volunteer planting events. The Greenway welcomes individuals or groups to volunteer to transform landscapes. (To volunteer, visit mtsgreenway.org for a list of events.)
Other things one can do to lessen your carbon footprint:
- Keep your car fully maintained. Cars that have are running smoothly get better gas mileage. Cars with properly inflated tires get better gas mileage. Better gas mileage equals less carbon emissions.
- Turn off your motor whenever possible instead of letting your car idle.
- Combine car trips, walk to the grocery store and carpool when you can.
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FUTURE TREE PLANTING EVENTS
If you have test driven a car, purchased a car or you are just ready to get dirty and help our environment, we have trees for you.
Join Carter Subaru and the Mountains to Sound Greeway volunteers to plant native trees and shrubs to enhance natural areas in our region! to find out more about future plantings or contact us.
We'd love to see you there helping us "Plant A Forest, One Test Drive at a Time"!
