In this article, we’re going to look at why sustainability is so important, list a few examples of what sustainability looks like, and define its deeper meaning. If this is something you are interested in exploring further, we urge you to read on. 

Why is it called sustainability?

So, why is it called sustainability? Well, the literal definition of the word is: “the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level” / “the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.” 

This word applies perfectly to our current situation as many scientists believe that if we are to continue along the path of reckless consumption that we are currently on, it won’t be long before we pass the point of no return. 

Sustainability is all about living within our means – taking only what we need and leaving enough in the pot to keep the world turning. 

Put it this way: imagine you decided to live off the grid and secure a small piece of farmland of your own in the wild. You’ve got a supply of fresh water and some chickens. How long do you suppose you would be able to last if you ate your chickens faster than they could reproduce? Or if you over-foraged the area immediately surrounding your land? 

It’s all about finding the right balance. 

Why is sustainability so important?

Sustainability is so important because it would be woefully embarrassing if a species as intelligent and capable as the human race managed to manufacture their own extinction through mindless greed. 

Can you imagine how baffling that would be to an advanced alien race studying our planet from afar? 

“It’s so sad that this promising species didn’t make it. How did they die?” 

“Gluttony. They just kept consuming – more than they could ever possibly need. They overfished their oceans, they cut down all of their rainforests, they drove all of the species that were critical to biodiversity to the point of extinction, and they burned through fossil fuels at such an alarming rate that it slowly heated their planet and eventually cooked them alive.” 

“Wait, what?”

“Yep. And they did all that despite all of their scientists urging them to be more sustainable. They even had the technology to produce free energy for all and yet they ignored it in the name of money.” 

“What’s money?” 

“You don’t want to know…”

It might seem a little extreme, but this could all too well be our reality unless we keep the conversation going. We need to do everything we can to educate people on the importance of sustainability and apply pressure to those in power to support us. 

Without sustainability, we’ll run out of chickens. 

What are examples of sustainability?

First, let’s break sustainability down into its four primary pillars:

• Human sustainability

• Social sustainability

• Economic sustainability

• Environmental sustainability 

Human sustainability 

Human sustainability refers to investing in our society. Investments in health, education, and nutrition. Nurturing our young people to grow into the leaders of tomorrow while supporting those who come before us. 

The UK’s NHS is a brilliant example of human sustainability (or rather, it was); the investment in public health services to provide everyone with access to free healthcare. Today, this system is under threat of privatisation – which is another issue entirely. 

Social sustainability 

Social sustainability is designed to preserve social capital through the investment in and creation of services that support the frameworks of our global society; communities, cultures, reciprocity, teamwork, law & order, equality, human rights, and so on. 

You could argue that social sustainability is the process of creating the foundations upon which human sustainability can function. 

A great example of social sustainability is the liberal drive toward equality and equal opportunity for all in terms of education, healthcare, and personal decision-making. 

Economic sustainability 

Economic sustainability is the process of keeping capital intact and improving our overall standard of living. It’s maintaining economic growth without burning through all of our resources. This is the most fragile of the four pillars as economic growth has historically been driven by greed and competition. New economics is aiming to be inclusive of natural and social capital while challenging the ethos that all growth is good and the bigger the better. 

Economic sustainability needs to be regulated with the utmost care and attention, supporting social and human sustainability as a priority. 

A great example of economic sustainability is recycling. By taking discarded products such as used glass bottles and scrap metal and then repurposing them into new products, giving them another life, as opposed to allowing those materials to go to waste in landfill. 

Environmental sustainability 

Environmental sustainability is arguably the most important pillar of all, as without a healthy and sustainable environment, we won’t have people, a society, or an economy to sustain. 

This pillar aims to improve both human welfare and that of the other species we share our planet with, including the protection of natural capital (e.g., water, minerals, land, etc.). 

For the modern business owner, environmental sustainability should be at the forefront of their priorities – specifically ensuring that their day-to-day operations does not negatively impact our environment. 

A great example of environmental sustainability is composting. How does composting work? It’s the process of taking waste food, breaking it down naturally, and turning it into fertiliser for your plants. Put it this way: if everyone in the United States composted it would be the equivalent to removing 7.8 million cars from the road.  

Conclusion 

To some people, sustainability is a bad word. It poses a threat to their annual profits and their chance of securing a hefty bonus at the end of the year. To the rest of humanity? It’s a matter of our survival. 

You may think it is hyperbole or nonsensical fear-mongering. We say: how about we make more of an effort to be sustainable, just in case? 

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For example, what is the difference between an excavator and a backhoe? Are they called diggers or excavators? And what exactly is an excavator used for? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know. 

What is the difference between an excavator and a backhoe?

Before we highlight the key differences between excavators and backhoes, first let’s define what each piece of equipment is…

What is an excavator?

An excavator is a very powerful and effective digging machine. Excavators feature a large boom, stick, and bucket. Not only are they used for digging, but they can be utilised in the mining industry, for demolishing buildings, breaking and dredging, and more. 

Excavators come in a wide variety of sizes and are classified as such: 

• Mini excavators weigh less than 13k lbs

• Midi excavators weigh between 13k lbs and 22k lbs

• Standard excavators weigh in at between 22k lbs and 90k lbs

• Large excavators are heavier than 90k lbs. 

The driver cab of an excavator swivels and rotates 360 degrees, thus allowing the driver to move the arm to dig and dump dirt while the undercarriage remains in place. In some cases, people refer to excavators as 360s, though this is less common in the UK. 

More often than not, excavators have tracks, as opposed to wheels, as tracks are far better suited to manoeuvring on uneven surfaces. 

One defining feature of excavators is the fact that the bucket can be swapped out and replaced with a wide variety of different attachments, such as grapples, rakes, augers, and breakers. 

What is a backhoe? 

A backhoe is similar to an excavator, only they are smaller and much easier to manoeuvre. They have a boom, stick, and bucket at the back, and then a large loader attached to the front. 

Your standard backhoe can easily dig to depths of 12 to 16 feet, however, some specialised backhoes can reach 19 feet. The back riggers of a backhoe offer the machine great stability, especially on uneven surfaces. 

Similar to an excavator, backhoes can also be fitted with a wide variety of different attachments, from plough blades, forks, drum compactors, hammers, and much, much more. 

Now that we know what excavators and backhoes are, what are the main differences between both pieces of equipment? 

• The size of the job site in question: as excavators are much larger and heavier, they are far better suited to large sites – including industrial job sites, Backhoes, on the other hand, are more appropriate for medium-sized worksites and farmland. For especially small job sites, mini excavators are available – serving the same function as a standard excavator, only on a much smaller scale. 

• The overall scale of the project: excavators offer far more power than backhoes, particularly when it comes to digging depth and demolition power. As such, they are perfect for the heaviest duties, whereas backhoes are ideal for medium-sized work, and so on. 

• Required mobility: when mobility is an essentiality, for example, being able to move your machine between one jobsite and another, you will need to use a trailer for excavators (see excavator trailers by SureWeld as an example). Backhoes on the other hand can be driven on the roads at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. 

• Task at hand: medium and standard sized excavators offer a significant amount more power and efficiency when digging foundations, and trenches, and being used for demolition. For smaller to medium sized jobs, such as loading, material moving, and breaking (e.g., most landscaping jobs), backhoes are ideal. For demolition indoor or for backyard swimming pool development, mini excavators are the one. 

Is it called a digger or excavator?

The ‘official’ name is an excavator, however, this machine has many different names. You’ll often hear them referred to as JCBs (which is one of the most popular manufacturers of excavators) or diggers as is the most common term in the UK. 

What is an excavator used for?

Excavators, or diggers, can be used to complete a plethora of different tasks, depending on your chosen attachment. For example: 

• Digging trenches, holes, and foundations

• Handling and moving materials 

• Brush cutting 

• Mowing 

• Forestry work

• Forestry mulching

• Demolition 

• Mining 

• River dredging

• Hydro excavation 

• Driving piles

• Drilling shafts 

• Rock blasting

• Snow removal/ploughing. 

Backhoes can also be used for similar tasks depending on the attachments used and the size and scale of the task at hand. 

Final thoughts 

So, let’s recap what we’ve learned:

• The main differences between excavators and backhoes are their capabilities in terms of the size and scale of project. 
• Excavator is the official term, but they are often referred to as diggers, particularly in the UK. 
• Excavators are used for a wide variety of different jobs, depending on the attachment (e.g., anything from digging trenches, mulching, mining, demolition, and snow ploughing). 

As you can see, there are a number of similarities between excavators and backhoes, it simply comes down to size and scale. Both machines are exceptionally useful in landscaping, construction, and industrial capacity. 

We hope that you’ve found this article helpful and that you now have a much better idea as to which machine will be best suited to your project.

The post What is the difference between an excavator and a backhoe? Is it called a digger or excavator? What is an excavator used for? appeared first on Team Hallin .

If you are considering becoming an arborist, here are a few frequently asked questions to help you decide if it is something you might want to do yourself, and why it is such an important job.

Is being an arborist a good career?

Being an arborist is essentially being a tree doctor, caring for, shaping, and maintaining trees for individuals or companies alike. It is absolutely a good career as you are helping both the people and flora on the planet at the same time.

Trees are essential to our way of life. They provide oxygen, shelter and shade from the sun, they brighten up our streets, provide us with fruit to eat, and hold up our swings and tree houses. A healthy and well-looked-after tree is a fantastic addition to any garden or land.

However, if it starts to become ill, a sick tree can infect others around it, can become rotten and unstable, and is a danger to you and others. They can become a home for pests that you really don’t want moving in on your land, such as termites, beetles and moths.

You may also find that your tree is posing a danger in other ways. If left untended, trees can grow too large and in certain weather conditions can threaten to fall on power lines and even your home. If your tree is sick, and in need of care, an arborist is who you should call.

While there is no shortage of trees, there will always be a need for qualified tree doctors to take care of them. Experienced and reputable companies like A B Trees in Perth hire the best arborists to fell or heal trees and help keep your garden safe and looking beautiful.

Is being an arborist a difficult job?

There are many tricky aspects to being an arborist, and it is absolutely not something you should try out for yourself without the proper training and instruction. It is a very physical job, requiring you to be able to work in all kinds of conditions. You have to have strength, agility, and the ability to work at great heights. 

Those who enjoy working outside and in challenging conditions would find this a less difficult job than those that prefer working in an office, so whether it is the right job for you depends very much on the sort of worker that you are.

The training to begin your journey to become an arborist can be the most difficult part for those not used to working at great heights, with the tools you need, and doing jobs that you haven’t done before. If you are working with professionals who can guide you and ease your way then it will be a lot easier than if you try and get by without the right help.

At the start of your career, you have to be very fit, strong and hands-on with your work. Working with trees requires a lot of arm strength, and core muscles, and often spending a lot of time in strange positions. 

You also have to use your brain. Being an arborist demands quick thinking, experience and knowledge of trees and what can be wrong with them. If you are not sure you have the physical skills, the ability to work with heights, and the desire to learn more and more as you go along, then being an arborist may be a little too difficult for you.

Where do arborists make the most money?

Exactly how much an arborist gets paid depends on where they are working, what skills and knowledge they have, and the kind of work they will be put to. If an arborist is simply asked to look over an area, and perhaps make some recommendations for future care, they may charge less than those that carry out the actions.

Now we will take a look at how much arborists earn in many countries around the world to get a better understanding of the range of pay.

How much do arborists get paid in the UK? 

In the UK the average yearly wage for an arborist is £30,259. While this is slightly less than the national average salary, it is a stand-out industry and the salary is actually increasing at 7.5% each year while many others remain the same.

How much do arborists get paid in Australia? 

In Australia, the average salary for an arborist is AU$59,743, which is around 15% lower than the national average salary.

How much do arborists make in New Zealand? 

In New Zealand, there is a sliding scale with new arborists receiving minimum wage, and this amount increases along with years of experience. Yearly, arborists can earn between NZ$45,000 and $68,000.

How much do arborists get paid in the USA?

In the United States of America, the number is around $41,881, though there is a large difference in pay depending on which state you are in. California has the highest wages at $54,109.

How much do arborists make in Canada?

Canada is one of the best places in the world to work as an arborist with an average salary of $60,317 per year. Perhaps this is unsurprising when you think of Canada and its beautiful forests of trees.

Final thoughts

All in all, arborists earn a reasonably similar wage wherever they work around the world. It is a tough job, requiring plenty of skill, bravery, and hard work, but it is definitely a fantastic job that needs to be done. 

If you think your trees might be diseased or need tending to, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified arborist today

The post Is being an arborist a good career? Is it a difficult job? Where do they make the most money? How much do they get paid? appeared first on Team Hallin .

In this article, we’re going to look at some colour schemes that create a calming effect, what kind of décor can make the space look classy, and how much it would cost to redo your office, on average. Read on if you’d like to learn more.

What colours are calming for an office?

So, what colours can create a ‘calming’ effect in an office space? First of all, the more important thing is an office is having ample lighting. Natural light is the most effective, however, if your office does not receive an abundance of natural light, you must ensure that your office is well-lit with LEDs that have a natural and warming colour temperature.

When your office is well-lit, it will help to keep productivity levels up and prevent your employees from feeling too easily fatigued. Simply put, a well-lit office can help your employees focus on the task at hand without feeling utterly miserable about being trapped indoors.

Another great way to create a more calming environment (particularly without an abundance of natural light) is via some well-placed office plants. Office plants bring a number of physical and psychological benefits, not to mention the fact that they brighten up the place with spatterings of natural green.

Aside from lighting and plants, however, what colours can you paint the walls in order to create a more calming effect? Here’s a closer look at colour psychology for offices:

• Gray is a balanced colour that does not cause too much distraction. Not only that but it pairs well with office furniture and/or other colourful accessories.
• Neutral colours such as brown, taupe, or sand can create a non-distracting background without making a space feel drab. They also pair wonderfully with the greens from your office plants.
• Blue is a naturally tranquil colour that has many positive associations with ‘clear thinking’.
• Darker blues are said to create a stable atmosphere (not to mention the fact that it is rather classy – which we will come to shortly).
• Aqua blues and turquoise bring peace and balance.
• Yellow is most associated with optimism and is believed to stimulate creativity in the workplace.

How do I make my office look classy?

And how can you make your office appear to be classier? There are many different things that you can try, but these are some of the top tips for creating an awesome-looking office space:

• De-clutter: the saying “less is more” applies wonderfully to an office environment. An office that is too cluttered and poorly optimised will not only hinder performance and productivity, but it looks uneasy on the eye.
• Use quality vendors: from the ergonomic furniture that you kit your office out with to the artwork that you display for good measure, make sure that you use quality vendors. Yes, you’ll pay a higher premium, but if you want a classy-looking office, paying the extra for high-quality products and materials is always recommended.
• Ditch the carpet: gorgeous hardwood floors or polished concrete is an easy and effective way of classing up your office.
• Add plants: as mentioned above, not only do plants bring a number of physical and psychological benefits, but they are a sure fire way to break up a space and make it look far more sophisticated.
• Invest in smart lighting: smart lighting solutions can make a huge impact on the look and feel of an office space – and you can combine different fixtures in a multitude of ways. For example, track lighting pointing at feature walls, lambs for individual tables, and LED spotlights to create harmony throughout.

How much does it cost to redo an office?

How much does it cost, on average, to redo an office in the UK? These numbers can vary significantly depending on a wide variety of criteria, however, for a mid-level refurb, you can be looking at anywhere between £20 and £100 per sq/ft. This isn’t including any furniture or artwork that you choose to kit your office out with.

In some cases, you can pay more or less, it depends on the amount of work that you need to do. For example, if your office has already been fitted out and you simply want to breathe some life back into it, a lick of paint, some new light fixtures, and swapping / re-arranging your furniture can make a huge impact.

In any case, redoing your office is well worth the investment. The fact is, creating a more calming and harmonious space with productivity in mind is an effective way of boosting employee performance, morale, and ultimately revenue. By classing up your office, you can indeed create a healthier working environment and take your business to the next level.

Find a reputable office fitout and renovations company like Alpha Ceilings and Partitions which can help transform your office space entirely and watch as your business thrives.

Final thoughts

To recap:

• An office can have a more calming effect throw ample lighting and well-placed plants.
• Gray, blues, greens, and neutral colours can have a wonderful impact on employee morale.
• Offices can be made to look classier by de-cluttering, using quality vendors, opting for wood or polished concrete floors, and investing in smart lighting.
• The average office redo in the UK costs between £20 and £100 per sq/ft.

The post What colours are calming for an office? How do I make my office look classy? How much does it cost to redo an office? appeared first on Team Hallin .

An event can be a long and demanding affair, especially if there’s little in the way of relief. For example: imagine having to sit through a whole day of presentations without a break in between, or the chance to sit down and have a spot of lunch! It would be a nightmare. As such, feeding and entertaining your guests should always be a major priority.

Break the event up

In order for your guests to not only enjoy themselves, but to digest everything that is going on properly without getting bogged down or burned out, you’ll need to break the event up into sections. You should almost certainly implement a few intermissions with quality entertainment. This could be in the way of live music whilst everyone is sitting down to eat, or a stand-up comedian to offer some comic relief. If done correctly, you can successfully entertain your guests at your event, whilst having the optimum impact with the message that you’re trying to get across (e.g., if you’re looking to raise money for charity / inspire your employees to exceed their sales targets in the new quarter).

Create a memorable event

Of course, if your event has an awesome show of entertainment planned, then it’s going to make it significantly more memorable for your guests. Otherwise, they’ll get bored pretty quickly and look forward to getting on with their lives. An event with poorly planned entertainment is a forgettable one.

Make it “instaworthy”

What better a way of spreading hype about your event than by creating an “instaworthy” vibe around it! If you have awesome entertainment, your guests will be much more likely to tag themselves at the event, showing off what an awesome time they’re having to their friends and followers. This is especially useful if you plan to put on more events in the future! Try creating a unique hashtag for your event and encourage your guests to use it!

When people have fun, they will return

If you want your guests to attend future events, then putting on a show is an essentiality. When your guests have an awesome time and enjoy the entertainment that you hired, then they’ll be significantly more likely to attend your future events!

Conclusion

Don’t stress! There are so many different entertainment ideas and options for you to choose from, with an incredible amount of talent out there. That said, if you’re struggling to think of something for your event, then why not hire the professionals to assist you in the planning process and see what they suggest? An established company will have plenty of strong connections in the industry, allowing you access to some truly awesome entertainment!

In any case, we wish you the best of luck with your event. Know your audience, take your time, and plan thoroughly—you’ll be just fine!

The post Why It’s Important to Entertain Your Guests at an Event appeared first on Team Hallin .

1 – Keeping gear in your car out of sight

It’s handy keeping certain things in the car, though what isn’t ideal is having to bring them into the house every evening. Security is always an issue with cars and we’re constantly reminded not to leave our possessions on display. Let’s say for example, you want to keep some tools in the car in case of a break-down, or perhaps some jumper cables. These are the sorts of items that would-be thieves are going to want to break into your vehicle for. So, for security reasons, having quality drawer systems for your 4×4 installed is a huge bonus, as nobody will ever know that they’re there, or what’s inside!

2 – Shopping made easy!

Sometimes we pop to the shops for a few bits, and not a weekly grocery collection. Perhaps it’s a few bottles of wine and some ingredients for dinner. In any case, it’s no good packing them into the boot if they’re going to roll around and potentially smash and spill everywhere. You feel them with each bump in the road, cringing at every turn. Well, if you have drawer systems installed, you can store your shopping so much easier, whilst keeping them safe and secure from harm. That way, you’ll be able to drive home comfortably without a care!

3 – You’ll have more space…ish

Technically speaking, you’re not creating more space by having drawers installed, as you are indeed using up space. However, the fact that you’ll able to pack your car smarter, means that there will be (hypothetically speaking), more room in the car, as you can fit more items in. This is particularly awesome when it comes to going away on a camping trip with the family! Smarter packing means nobody is going to get a suitcase to the back of the head en-route to your destination.

4 – They pair nicely with other 4×4 accessories

Let’s say for example, that you and your family are avid campers. Having the drawer system installed is going to significantly improve the camping experience. But it gets better! Imagine having a fridge installed in your car as well! So, you’ve got that extra storage space for all of your gear, and you can also bring your own food as well! Perfect. In addition to that, you might even want to substitute the space lost from the fridge by investing in some roof racks where you can store extra bags! Perfect.

5 – You can do it all online!

That’s right, you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. You can simply order them online and voila! No need to stress. Simply visit a 4×4 Accessories store for some examples of their equipment and you’ll be able to get a good idea as to how it all works!

The post Practical Uses for Drawer Systems for Your 4×4 appeared first on Team Hallin .

The way that they sway in the breeze. These picturesque moments are ingrained in us and rarely fail to put smiles on faces.

As such, it is important that we take excellent care of our trees, particularly the ones on our property. But what can you do to care for them? How much maintenance is actually required?

Well, a good place to start is by consulting a tree lopping expert. Not so that they can go ahead and cut your trees down of course, but so that they can guide you on how to tend to them properly. You see, arborism isn’t just about cutting down trees, but promoting strong future growth.

1 – Understand the trees on your property

It always helps to know what trees you have on your property. Naturally, different species of trees vary in terms of what their needs are and which ailments they may be prone to. Knowing all of this information will enable you to care for your trees accordingly.

Again, if you’re not quite sure, you can always consult a local tree lopping expert, or the internet.

2 – Trim your trees

The first place that they’d probably start is by advising you to trim your trees. Pruning is an essential part of a tree’s general maintenance. It involves cutting away the dead and dying branches and allowing the tree to grow strong and tall. Trimming back the leaves is also a great way of ensuring that the tree itself is getting as much sunlight as possible!

architecture of modern cottage house and green trees

3 – Don’t overdo the pruning

There is such a thing as over-pruning a tree. You can’t do it too much or too often otherwise you can send the tree into a state of shock. Again, this is something that you can seek advice about from the professionals.

If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, then you can hire an experienced individual to do it for you. By cutting away too much of a tree in one go, it can be traumatic, causing it to wither and die. Be mindful!

Conclusion

You can make your garden beautiful by trimming your trees and you will also be promoting great health as well. This is all part of the process! It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

You get to keep your environment looking clean and healthy, and your trees will have a shot at a long and healthy life as well. Just keep a close eye on them and look for signs of sickness before they get a chance to spread!

The post How to Properly Take Care of Your Trees appeared first on Team Hallin .

Whether it be a personal, residential project, or if you’re looking to build several properties to flip for profit, you’ve got a long journey ahead of you! One that will be filled with all manner of emotions. Joy, elation, anticipation, anxiety, worry, frustration, relief…the list goes on.

One thing is for certain though: there are things that you can do to make life easier, and to significantly reduce the amount of stress that you experience throughout the process. Having a detail & level survey carried out before going any further, is one of them.

What is a detail & level survey?

In a nutshell: it’s the lay of the land—a detail & level survey is the process of mapping out an entire plot, paying close attention to every topographical detail, and then compiling it into a useful and informative set of documents.

Why bother?

It’s a good question. Surely, it’s easy enough to pick a good-looking spot and to crack on with a construction project? In an ideal world, yes. However, unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. There are many factors that must be considered prior to construction, from environmental, spatial, and structural.

Identify the best use of the land

By having one of these detailed surveys carried out, you will be able to best determine what the plot of land can be used for. For example, if the ground is terribly uneven and surrounded by hillside, it’s going to be difficult to build on.

This is because, levelling the plot out will require a significant amount of work; after which, it’s still going to be prone to flooding due to the basin-like qualities of the land. Are there any protected trees on the property?

Will they hinder the progress of your construction project? Are there any troublesome rocks that will prove difficult to remove? These are just a handful of the reasons to get a detail & level survey sorted.

Planning permission

In most cases, you will need to provide your local council with a detail & level survey in order to acquire planning permission. That, and a truckload of other information will be required! So, you’ll want to make life easier for yourself by going ahead and preparing as much of that information as possible. That way, you can breeze your way through the planning permission process and get started at the earliest possible time. You don’t want to spend months on this, believe us!

Hire the professionals

By hiring the professionals to carry out this survey, you’ll be taking full advantage of their expertise. A reputable and reliable company like them will not only have all of the required equipment, but they can often provide you will invaluable advice when moving forward with your project, based on years of experience. It’s certainly something to consider! In any case, we wish you the best of luck with your endeavour!

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