Green questions, answered

"If I use a lot of water rinsing out food containers before putting them in the recycling bin, am I really being eco-friendly? Or, am I doing the world a favor when I choose to use compact-florescent light bulbs? They’re energy-efficient, but also contain a trace amount of mercury.
If you’re looking for a fact-based, pro/con treatment of these kinds of issues, check out The Green Lantern department at Slate.com. Its columnists have tackled several topics near and dear to the green industry, like whether it’s better to buy a fake or real Christmas tree and which shade trees soak up the most carbon."

Project: Green Industry

Trees Absorb a Fifth of Carbon Emissions Pumped Out by Humans

"The journal Nature published a study that found nearly one-fifth of fossil fuel emissions are absorbed by forests across Africa, Amazonia, and Asia. Lewis found that on average the trees are getting bigger and absorbing more CO2, contrary to the theory that mature forests are carbon neutral as a result of the carbon absorbed by new trees being balanced by that released from old trees dying.
Dr. Simon Lewis, a Royal Society research fellow at the University of Leeds and author of the paper, added a 40-year study of African forests to existing data on South American and Asian forests, and concluded, 'Tropical forest trees are absorbing about 18 percent of the CO2 added to the atmosphere each year from burning fossil fuels, substantially buffering the rate of climate change.'The findings could be used to pressure world leaders to halt deforestation, Lewis said. "It's good news for now but the effect won't last forever. The trees can't keep on getting bigger and bigger," Lewis noted."
Alliance for Community Trees

Beeson's McHenry County Nursery - In The News

May's Delight Crabapple is featured in the January 2009 issue of NMPro magazine.

EcoStimulus

It's not too late to contact your Senators to urge their support of forest-friendly provisions of the economic stimulus package.
American Forests Forestbytes December 2008

Green Tech - February Report

In the midst of a winter with record low temperatures and ice storms causing catastrophic damage to structures and landscapes, a skeptic may say, 'What's all the fuss about global warming, this is the coldest winter we've had in the Midwest in decades!'

What we miss in this short term view is that global warming comes to us - not as a gradual change to balmy weather - but in the form of weather extremes and erratic weather patterns.
For more information or to see how you can help contact Staphanie Brown at the Illinois Forest Resource Center.
Also, make sure you visit our Research and Development blog for information on Winter Injury.

-Mary T. McClelland- GreenTech

OUR GREEN TECH TEAM
If you have a concern about plant needs, pests, siting or general plant health, we can help. We offer a site-visit service for any questions about how our plants are doing in their new location.
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California Study Shows Shade Trees Reduce Summertime Electricity Use

"A recent study shows that shade trees on the west and south sides of a house in California can reduce a homeowner's summertime electric bill by about $25.00 a year.

Some of the study's key findings are:

• Placement of a tree is the key to energy savings. Shade trees do affect summertime electricity use, but the amount of the savings depends on the location of the tree.
• Trees planted within 40 feet of the south side or within 60 feet of the west side of the house will generate about the same amount of energy savings. This is because of the way shadows fall at different times of the day.
• Tree cover on the east side of a house has no effect on electricity use.
• A tree planted on the west side of a house can reduce net carbon emissions from summertime electricity use by 30 percent over a 100-year period."

ScienceDaily.com

Green Communities

Recently published "Planning the Urban Forest: Ecology, Economy, and Community Development" addresses the need for a green infrastructure approach and the means to incorporate trees into planning.
myapa.planning.org

New Resource Guide for Landscape Architects

"This resource guide offers links to some good resources geared towards landscape architects focused on business administration, marketing and communications, building new technology skills, and creating digital portfolios."

American Society of Landscape Architects

Green Collar Jobs

The Winter 2009 American Forests magazine featured an article about 'Green Collar Jobs', a term that has become increasingly common in recent years. Defined as 'blue-collar work force opportunities created by firms and organizations whose mission is to improve environmental quality' by Raquel Pinderhughes, 'Green Collar Jobs' seem to address environmental concerns as well as boosting our economy.
More information available at American Forests