We’re nurturing healthy green spaces to help our communities thrive.

This spring, our volunteers cultivated gardens that bring people together, helped deliver shade trees to homes, and joined local partners to enhance research in Saguaro National Park.

Here are three ways we’re enhancing our environmental stewardship, which is one of our company’s philanthropic focus areas. Philanthropic donations come from company resources and not customer rates.

Helping Community Gardens Grow

Community gardens are blooming stronger with an increase in TEP’s financial donations and volunteer work.

On April 12, TEP  donated $15,000 to the Community Gardens of Tucson (CGT) to enhance its efforts, specifically for a new garden at Freedom Park. The check presentation was made at the nonprofit organization’s Bloomin’ Bash fundraiser at Mary Meredith Community Garden.

TEP officials decided to increase this year’s donation because of the incorporation of Freedom Park’s garden in the 29th Street Thrive Zone, a City of Tucson approach to plan and transform neighborhoods.

In addition to TEP’s financial support, our volunteers have dedicated time to the local gardens.

Most recently, TEP President Erik Bakken sponsored a volunteer event at the Mary Meredith Community Garden in partnership with TEP’s green team, UNS ECOS (Employees Creating Opportunities for Sustainability).

A group of 18 volunteers dedicated a Saturday morning to shoveling and mixing various soils to create a custom mix for all three raised beds in the garden. Through the team’s hard work, positive energy, and willingness to jump in wherever was needed, the raised garden beds were filled and multiple other garden tasks were completed.

Last year, Keeling CGT partnered with UNS ECOS volunteers to help build raised garden beds.

Bringing Free Shade to Affordable Homes

Local affordable homes will feel cooler and shadier through TEP’s donation and support.

TEP donated 10 shade trees at a Pima County Community Land Trust event for its Home Talks/Stewardship Program. The April 18 event focused on tree planting, tree care, and energy-saving information with the goal of supporting local low- to moderate-income homeowners.

“The attendees were very excited to get their own trees after receiving a live demonstration from the Pima County Community Land Trust office,” said Katelyn Lacoy, an intern on TEP’s Customer Energy Optimization team.

TEP also provided brochures with energy-saving tips and information about our Lifeline program, which provides discounts on electric bills for low-income customers.

Learn more about how the land trust provides solutions to affordable housing.

Going Green Among Saguaros

Our company’s employee-led “green team” organized a volunteer activity out in the green of the saguaros.

In early March, 14 TEP volunteers visited Saguaro National Park in partnership with the Friends of Saguaro National Park to support research on saguaros.

“This volunteer activity was such a great opportunity to learn about our southwestern desert landscape while getting to connect with fellow volunteers,” said Kennedy Satta-Williams, a Transmission & Distribution Business Analyst and member of UNS ECOS.

The volunteers worked in groups to gather data for ongoing research at the park, taking measurements of about 30 saguaros. Together, the teams took measurements of features, including height, number of arms, diameter, and GPS coordinates, along with measurements of the saguaros’ arms, such as length, positioning, and width. All data collected by volunteers will be published in ongoing research at the park.

“It was a beautiful day, we contributed to science, and it became a team building experience as we collaborated to collect saguaro measurements in challenging terrain,” said Catherine Schladweiler, Director for Environmental Services and Sustainability and board member of Friends of Saguaro National Park.