[Biofuel] Plastic forest
http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/12/09/home-garden/the-great-annual-christmas-tree-debate-real-vs-artificial-aka-fake/ The Great Annual Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs. Artificial (aka Fake) December 9, 2013 By Richard Kujawski, Managing Editor Decorating for the holidays often involves a Christmas tree. Each year, Americans buy about 30 million real trees and about 13 million fake ones. However, since artificial trees are usually reused, the number of artificial trees actually strung up each year is about 50 million. But which choice is greener-cutting down a living tree that sequesters carbon, or buying a plastic one from China that could last 6 or more years but still end up in a landfill? The right environmental choice may not be clear-cut. Brief History of the Artificial Tree The first artificial tree, according to some source, is the wooden tree-shaped pyramid with candles built by a church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1747. But much more attention was paid to the feather trees first built in the 1880s in Germany, where deforestation encouraged an alternative to the traditional tannenbaum. Feather trees were made of green-dyed goose feathers attached to wire branches around a thin wooden post that served as the tree trunk. Candles and ornaments were also hung. Then in 1930 the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas tree made from the same animal-hair bristles used for their toilet brushes, but dyed green. The bristle trees were less flammable and sturdier than feather trees. Aluminum trees showed up around 1958 and were sold for about 20 years. Ironically, they were most popular in 1965, when A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time. The negative treatment of the tree and poor Charlie Brown changed the public's mind about their cool factor. Today, most artificial trees are made of petroleum-based PVC, with carcinogens produced during production. Fake trees may also contain lead that can be spread indoors. If pre-decorated, they can't be recycled at the end of their lifecycle. What the Trade Groups That Represent Christmas Trees Have to Say Both trees have plusses and minuses in the eco-footprint department. And who better to talk about each tree's strength (and point out the shortcomings of the other) than their respective trade associations. The National Christmas Tree Association (www.realchristmastrees.org) represents the farms and growers of real tree. The website doesn't say much about artificial trees except that Real Christmas Trees are not just fragrant and beautiful, they are also better for the environment than fake trees, inexpensive, safe, easy to care for, and an excellent choice for your family's traditional Christmas celebration. The White House Christmas Tree is real, as the site points out, and the nonprofit supports Trees for Troops, which will provides18,000 free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to armed forces members and their families in the U.S. and overseas. The selecting, caring for, and recycling of a real tree is explained on the site. The American Christmas Tree Association (www.christmastreeassociation.org) represents the interests of the artificial trees in this country-which have about an 85 percent chance of having been made in China. Their site has lots of scare content about real trees catching fire, and making sure bugs aren't in that real tree you were just about to buy. What is not mentioned is the fact that nearly all fake trees are made from harmful plastics that are non-recyclable. (To find an artificial tree made in the USA, do an internet search for Artificial Christmas trees made in USA. Pros and Cons So which tree is naughty and which is nice? Many experts point out that the carbon footprint and overall environmental impact is minimal compared to what's caused by our daily driving. So you could do penance for a few days by biking or carpooling and then enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Perhaps the real choice to make is: Which will bring more enjoyment and happiness. For some, the guilt of cutting down a tree drives them toward fake needles, which can also be more convenient. For others, the thought of replacing natural with artificial is not their idea of a joyous noel. However, for those ruled by their head and not their heart, here are some factoids gathered from various sources, including the New York Times, EarthTalk, and Earth911. * Real trees are primarily grown on farms to minimize deforestation. These farms are often marginal for crops but work for trees, and preserve green spaces. However, pesticides and chemicals are used to some amount. * Real trees generate oxygen and absorb carbon from the air while alive. Artificial trees create factory pollution. * Real trees are often recycled into mulch. They also leave a mess of needles, and require regular watering-especially if you want to minimize needle
Re: [Biofuel] Plastic forest
A windstorm last week broke about 15 feet off the top of a 25 foot lodgepole pine near my house. It had a canker infection where it broke which commonly weakens the trunks on lodgepoles in this area. I think the top 5 feet if this will do quite nicely as a Christmas tree. Most years I am able to fine fresh windfall trees to use, since the winds usually start back up in November here. Long term I am somewhat concerned about whether wind events are becoming more severe and blowing down more trees than average, but it does solve the Christmas tree issue. Z On Dec 13, 2013, at 6:53 AM, Keith Addison ke...@journeytoforever.org wrote: http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/12/09/home-garden/the-great-annual-christmas-tree-debate-real-vs-artificial-aka-fake/ The Great Annual Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs. Artificial (aka Fake) December 9, 2013 By Richard Kujawski, Managing Editor Decorating for the holidays often involves a Christmas tree. Each year, Americans buy about 30 million real trees and about 13 million fake ones. However, since artificial trees are usually reused, the number of artificial trees actually strung up each year is about 50 million. But which choice is greener-cutting down a living tree that sequesters carbon, or buying a plastic one from China that could last 6 or more years but still end up in a landfill? The right environmental choice may not be clear-cut. Brief History of the Artificial Tree The first artificial tree, according to some source, is the wooden tree-shaped pyramid with candles built by a church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1747. But much more attention was paid to the feather trees first built in the 1880s in Germany, where deforestation encouraged an alternative to the traditional tannenbaum. Feather trees were made of green-dyed goose feathers attached to wire branches around a thin wooden post that served as the tree trunk. Candles and ornaments were also hung. Then in 1930 the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas tree made from the same animal-hair bristles used for their toilet brushes, but dyed green. The bristle trees were less flammable and sturdier than feather trees. Aluminum trees showed up around 1958 and were sold for about 20 years. Ironically, they were most popular in 1965, when A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time. The negative treatment of the tree and poor Charlie Brown changed the public's mind about their cool factor. Today, most artificial trees are made of petroleum-based PVC, with carcinogens produced during production. Fake trees may also contain lead that can be spread indoors. If pre-decorated, they can't be recycled at the end of their lifecycle. What the Trade Groups That Represent Christmas Trees Have to Say Both trees have plusses and minuses in the eco-footprint department. And who better to talk about each tree's strength (and point out the shortcomings of the other) than their respective trade associations. The National Christmas Tree Association (www.realchristmastrees.org) represents the farms and growers of real tree. The website doesn't say much about artificial trees except that Real Christmas Trees are not just fragrant and beautiful, they are also better for the environment than fake trees, inexpensive, safe, easy to care for, and an excellent choice for your family's traditional Christmas celebration. The White House Christmas Tree is real, as the site points out, and the nonprofit supports Trees for Troops, which will provides18,000 free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to armed forces members and their families in the U.S. and overseas. The selecting, caring for, and recycling of a real tree is explained on the site. The American Christmas Tree Association (www.christmastreeassociation.org) represents the interests of the artificial trees in this country-which have about an 85 percent chance of having been made in China. Their site has lots of scare content about real trees catching fire, and making sure bugs aren't in that real tree you were just about to buy. What is not mentioned is the fact that nearly all fake trees are made from harmful plastics that are non-recyclable. (To find an artificial tree made in the USA, do an internet search for Artificial Christmas trees made in USA. Pros and Cons So which tree is naughty and which is nice? Many experts point out that the carbon footprint and overall environmental impact is minimal compared to what's caused by our daily driving. So you could do penance for a few days by biking or carpooling and then enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Perhaps the real choice to make is: Which will bring more enjoyment and happiness. For some, the guilt of cutting down a tree drives them toward fake needles, which can also be more convenient. For others, the thought of replacing natural with
Re: [Biofuel] Plastic forest
Our artificial Christmas tree has once again taken up pride of place in our living room (as of the end of November). This is it's 25th year. It was made in Canada (which I don't see anymore). Our decision to go with an artificial tree was not primarily environmental, but because it tends to be up for over a month each year, and some years is left unattended for days at a time. It has received two major repairs in that time, and a major conversion to LED lighting about 4 years ago. It is festooned with ornaments we have received from friends and family over the years, mementos of major events in our family's life, and the annual memory ornaments I have written about previously on this list. Unlike the the live trees that come and go each year, this one has its own history and memories for our family. I trust it will continue to be part of our lives for years to come. Another approach to a re-usable (fake) tree that is more environmentally friendly. http://boutique.cascades.com/ca/en/catalog/christmas-trees/massimo/ Another take on the fake vs. real discussion: http://www.nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/story.cfm?content=178219 Darryl On 13/12/2013 8:53 AM, Keith Addison wrote: http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/12/09/home-garden/the-great-annual-christmas-tree-debate-real-vs-artificial-aka-fake/ The Great Annual Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs. Artificial (aka Fake) December 9, 2013 By Richard Kujawski, Managing Editor Decorating for the holidays often involves a Christmas tree. Each year, Americans buy about 30 million real trees and about 13 million fake ones. However, since artificial trees are usually reused, the number of artificial trees actually strung up each year is about 50 million. But which choice is greener-cutting down a living tree that sequesters carbon, or buying a plastic one from China that could last 6 or more years but still end up in a landfill? The right environmental choice may not be clear-cut. Brief History of the Artificial Tree The first artificial tree, according to some source, is the wooden tree-shaped pyramid with candles built by a church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1747. But much more attention was paid to the feather trees first built in the 1880s in Germany, where deforestation encouraged an alternative to the traditional tannenbaum. Feather trees were made of green-dyed goose feathers attached to wire branches around a thin wooden post that served as the tree trunk. Candles and ornaments were also hung. Then in 1930 the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas tree made from the same animal-hair bristles used for their toilet brushes, but dyed green. The bristle trees were less flammable and sturdier than feather trees. Aluminum trees showed up around 1958 and were sold for about 20 years. Ironically, they were most popular in 1965, when A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time. The negative treatment of the tree and poor Charlie Brown changed the public's mind about their cool factor. Today, most artificial trees are made of petroleum-based PVC, with carcinogens produced during production. Fake trees may also contain lead that can be spread indoors. If pre-decorated, they can't be recycled at the end of their lifecycle. What the Trade Groups That Represent Christmas Trees Have to Say Both trees have plusses and minuses in the eco-footprint department. And who better to talk about each tree's strength (and point out the shortcomings of the other) than their respective trade associations. The National Christmas Tree Association (www.realchristmastrees.org) represents the farms and growers of real tree. The website doesn't say much about artificial trees except that Real Christmas Trees are not just fragrant and beautiful, they are also better for the environment than fake trees, inexpensive, safe, easy to care for, and an excellent choice for your family's traditional Christmas celebration. The White House Christmas Tree is real, as the site points out, and the nonprofit supports Trees for Troops, which will provides18,000 free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to armed forces members and their families in the U.S. and overseas. The selecting, caring for, and recycling of a real tree is explained on the site. The American Christmas Tree Association (www.christmastreeassociation.org) represents the interests of the artificial trees in this country-which have about an 85 percent chance of having been made in China. Their site has lots of scare content about real trees catching fire, and making sure bugs aren't in that real tree you were just about to buy. What is not mentioned is the fact that nearly all fake trees are made from harmful plastics that are non-recyclable. (To find an artificial tree made in the USA, do an internet search for Artificial Christmas trees made in USA. Pros and Cons So which tree is naughty and which is nice? Many experts point out that the carbon footprint and overall
