Saturday, February 18, 2012

Heads Up: Proper Tree Removal in Chapel Hill

Unknown to many homeowners, removing a tree from their yard requires proper handling. Tree removal in Chapel Hill can be a bit complicated depending on the property concentration in a particular area. There are several important practices to ensure that trees are properly taken down. These are to ensure the safety of properties around or right under the tree and the people living nearby.

First thing to do is to perform an inspection on the area where the tree removal will be done. Check if there’s an ample space below in case that tree branches fall down while cutting. Tree limbs and branches should be cut down to small sizes, enough for the personnel to handle. And lastly, people working on the tree removal must wear proper working clothes and safety gears, and use quality equipment to avoid accidents.

Since many of us are inexperienced in this procedure, it is recommended to hire the services of tree removal companies in your state to perform the job for you. There is an established market of tree removal in Chapel Hill so finding one is never that tedious.

Safety is the topmost priority in every tree removal procedure. Even professional tree removers don’t take risks in cutting trees unprotected. It is important to follow safety precautions in every project. This includes wearing protective gear, especially for the head, leather gloves as protection from sharp splinters, and a pair of heavy duty boots with ankle support and that won’t slip to provide good hold white cutting the trees.

Ensuring the area to be clutter-free is vital to avoid serious accidents that may cause injuries or damage properties. If several establishments are present nearby, exert more effort in carefully cutting the tree down. Branches should be cautiously put down and dropping the tree should be done with guidance.

Also take note of power lines getting in the way. A single mistake of a branch falling down, cutting power lines can cause a blackout around the vicinity. With this, tree removal services must coordinate with the local energy company for this concern. They may help you in keeping power lines out of the way.

A quick research online will lead you to the best service provider of tree removal in Chapel Hill. Check out the rates for their services, quality of equipment, and testimonials from customers to have an idea on how they perform. This will also help you prepare for the upcoming expenses.

Premiere Tree Services of Chapel Hill
1289 N. Fordham Blvd. Ste. 334
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
 
Phone: (919) 914-0499
Customer Service: info@chapelhilltreeservices.com

Monday, February 6, 2012

Brown Seaweed Production Posits New Biofuel Source


Brown Seaweed Production Posits New Biofuel Source

How would you like to be a seaweed picker? I bet you never knew that job position even existed! Well it does off the coast of Chile, and for good reason. Chilean aquafarms are harvesting abundant supplies of naturally-growing brown seaweed as a way to produce a new source of biofuel.

Brown Seaweed Biofuel Discovery

The recent development of an engineered microbe produced by Berkeley-based scientists of Bio Architecture Lab, Inc. (BAL) does some amazing things to brown seaweed. The enzyme's main contribution to science is its ability to consume the sugars of brown seaweed and convert it into biofuel. In the race to find more sustainable fuel sources to power our planet, biofuel is the new hope for the future. This major advance in the fuel industry can change the course of progression for the US.

Much like the E. coli bacteria from which the microbes were derived, scientists have outfitted enzymes to attack the primary sugars of brown seaweed. These primary sugars, called alginate, then metabolize into ethanol. Scientists hope that this microscopic enzyme will become a biofuel alternative to oil and coal, which are the predominate sources of fossil fuels.


Local Production Efforts

According to recent studies, only three percent of our oceans can produce enough seaweed to keep up with our fossil fuel demand. Coastal Chile is the destination of four aquafarms, but the frigid waters of Northern Pacific ports like Seattle and Portland are teeming with brown seaweed as well. Oceanic plants are desirable as a source of renewable energy because they don’t compete with any other crops used for food, such as corn and sugar cane.  

Over the next three years energy experts hope to increase the microbe technology in an attempt at commercialization. Research shows that with enhanced production seaweed can produce twice the level of ethanol from sugar cane and five times the amount of ethanol from corn. What’s even better news is that land clearing for mass production of corn and cane sugar would decrease if brown seaweed proved easier to harvest in a more contained location.

Harvesting Brown Seaweed

Because of the thousands of acres it takes to produce enough corn and sugar cane to produce enough biofuel for our country’s demand, brown seaweed harvesting takes the cake. Seaweed requires no watering or fertilization. It doesn’t compete with food crops or require crop rotation, nor does it require chemical enhancements. The naturally-occurring nutrients are supplies by the ocean’s ecosystem, which appeals to eco-conscious consumers.  

Beyond its use as a biofuel alternative, the modified E. coli enzyme could be used to produce isobutanol as well.
Photo courtesy AFP.