Carbon Sequestration

Take a moment and take a deep breath. The quality of the very oxygen we breathe is dependent on the environments that surround us no matter where you are in the world. When it is in danger or threatened by an outside factor we must respond and make a change. This is all we hear environmentalists speak of today. Our governments have even decided to take action on the issue Reuters Article-Where Should the Feds Draw the Line on Green Marketing Claims?. The dreaded word- CARBON. Whether you believe we created the rise in carbon or not- we must take responsibility for our actions. What if we as a responsible society, instead of cowering at the threat of carbon take initiative to capture it, put it to use, educate one another with it and even enjoy it? Our trees can offer this.

Did you know trees are composed of nearly 50% carbon? Through the process of photosynthesis the trees that surround us remove carbon and use it as food. When the trees are diseased, dead and dying or our growth intersects their paths the trees fate can ultimately contribute to carbon emissions. As mentioned in our introductory article, instead of burning or chipping these trees up into small pieces for mulch or waste and releasing carbon into the atmosphere we can literally lock up the carbon. An alternative option for throwing the logs into already overflowing landfills we look to detain the carbon by turning this "waste" into tactile product. Citilog is sequestering the carbon in a progressive way.

Lets say a tree lives and provides oxygen for 100 years. When the tree nears the end of its life the wood is still good. Citilog takes the wood and upcycles it locking the carbon into tables, chairs, flooring, siding, timber frames, benches or bowls for hundreds of years. The tree can be returned to its original site, or taken to new site for use, education and enjoyment for all.

The Avalon Barn: a perfect illustration of carbon sequestration by Citilog. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is an insect that feeds on the Hemlocks in the Northern Atlantic region. It took the life of a handful of Hemlocks on the property Avalon Parks & Preserve. Without turning the trees into waste the park upcycled the dead and dying trees for multiple uses in the same project. The Hemlock provided the heavy timber framing which will last for 200 years or more as is. Once the timber frames serve their purpose they can be re-sawn into floor boards, furniture, etc. obtaining hundreds years more of use. If you really want to contribute to full circle recycling the products could then be ground up into mulch or saw dust depending on size and returned to the soil to begin the cycle all over again. This cycle is what William McDonough refers to in his catch phrase and book "Cradle to Cradle". Aside from heavy timber, the hemlock also supplied gorgeous flooring and siding for the project.

Trees are a critical resource that we must recognize as an opportunity. These trees can not only survive one life cycle, but in fact sustain multiple efforts in repurposing. The trees are in your hands, choose wisely.