SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
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Breaking News! USGBC Will Change its Wood Certification Requirements Click HERE for details. |
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Survey Says: Dealers Are Slowly Getting Greener, but Skepticism Persists
In March 2009, PROSALES magazine conducted an online survey of LBM dealers, distributors, and manufacturers regarding the state of the green construction movement in their communities as well as whether they had taken action to green their own operations. The Survey indicates dealers are getting more active in green issues, even though a significant number say there’s little demand to do so. A small majority of dealers responding to the nationwide, online poll said they’re getting asked more often these days about green, but 41% still categorize interest in their area as nonexistent or barely there. To check out how dealer responses from our area compared to the rest of the nation, click HERE.
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The Many Shades of Green
With all the buzz on all things green, most of us now understand the basic concept. But do any of us know exactly what “green building” means, and do we have answers for the questions our customers are asking? Click HERE for full article. What the Experts Say –
Dovetail Partners is a nonprofit organization that fosters sustainability and responsible behaviors by collaborating to develop unique concepts, systems, models and programs. Jim L. Bowyer, Professor Emeritus, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota; President, Bowyer & Associates, Inc. – a wood science and bioenergy consulting firm; and Director, Responsible Materials Program, Dovetail Partners, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, explains what’s all this means to our industry and our region.
The following articles were authored by Dr. James Bowyer.
Biomass Energy – An Emerging Opportunity for the Forest and Agricultural Sectors
A marked shift toward greater use of renewable energy is underway. A key element of renewable energy development is biomass, which today provides about one-half of renewable energy generation nationwide. To balance societal needs for renewable, less polluting energy sources with desires for healthy and diverse forests, one approach taken in Minnesota was the development of “Biomass Harvesting Guidelines.” Click HERE for full article.
Green Building Programs, Are They Really Green?
This article examines and explains the many different green building programs. The author, Jim L. Bowyer, is Professor Emeritus, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota; President, Bowyer & Associates, Inc. – a wood science and bioenergy consulting firm; and Director, Responsible Materials Program, Dovetail Partners, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota. Click HERE for full article.
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The NLBMDA Outlook
1. IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG? - Op/Ed by Valerir R. Hansen, LBMI Trustee
Today our industry is experiencing the most significant housing downturn in at least a generation. We’re also at the threshold of a new era in American home building, one that will spin off new construction methods, new materials, and require a new attention to process – or a return of old-fashioned craftsmanship. It’s time for lumber dealers, truss manufacturers, and the ALSC to take the leadership in establishing an eco-standard for dimensional lumber. CLICK HERE FOR REST OF ARTICLE
2. LBMI Formal Request to the ALSC
The Lumber and Building Materials Institute (LBMI), the research and education foundation of the NLBMDA, and the LBMI Green Building Council, respectfully request the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) to adopt a new eco-forest management standard, accredit agencies to certify the standard, and establish a corresponding eco-label (grade stamp). CLICK HERE FOR REST OF ARTICLE
- Green Links
Click HERE for links to other sustainble building web sites and certification links.
- FSC-Certified Suppliers
Click HERE to view a list of companies that have notified NLA that they have received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certification.
Green Education
“Certified Green Dealer™” Program
The NLA is pleased to announce a new program available to NLA members! The new “Certified Green Dealer™” program is designed to train, test, and certify the nation’s lumber and building material dealers on green building techniques and green products. Check out the ad below, or click HERE for more information.
April 6, 2009 No Comments
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WOOD
Environmental Benefits
Green by Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable WoodThe ATHENA™ Sustainable Materials Institute’s ultimate goal is to encourage the selection of material mixes that will minimize the environmental impact of a building over its life-cycle. The ATHENA computer model was used to compare alternative wood, steel and concrete structural designs for a three-story office building. The ATHENA findings are the result of a five-year research program involving architects, environmentalists, economists, engineers, and representatives from the steel, concrete and wood industries. ATHENA™’s life-cycle research found that wood building products have the lowest environmental impact when compared to other major building materials, based on raw materials and energy use, emissions to air, water and land. What are the facts?
These facts and others based on the ATHENA life-cycle findings can be found in a new primer put out by the Canadian Wood Council & the Forest Products Association of Canada have put out a primer, “Green by Design”. “Green By Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood.” Canadian Wood Council & Forest Products Association of Canada. (CWC & FPAC)A primer on the environmental comparisons of wood and other materials in home and building construction. This brochure explains why asking for Canadian wood products is the best environmental choice. It shows how taking a life cycle approach to building design will result in wood being the winner over competing products such as steel and concrete. Addressing Negative Perceptions and CampaignsAccording to the Wood Promotion Network, the last five years have witnessed mounting efforts by competing industries and environmental groups to reduce the market for wood. Their recent studies show that between 1997 and 2000 lumber alone lost 2.5% of the residential market for floors, walls and roofs. Significant environmental campaigns have been aimed at putting pressure on major corporate buyers of wood products. As a result, the public has been led to believe that forest are diminishing, that industry practices are not sustainable, and that the world needs to use less rather than more wood. The Wood Promotion Network is N. America’s largest ever coalition of wood product and allied industry companies and related associations, representing more than two-thirds of N. American wood production. These companies have joined together to educate builders, DIYers and homeowners throughout North America on the benefits of wood building materials and the abundance of today’s North American forests. Thus, the WPN goals are to secure and expand wood markets in N. America and to increase confidence about forest abundance and sustainability. While the goals may seem ambitious, the hard facts show that wood is the best environmental choice, hence it is not surprising that their campaigns to date have resulted in major achievements in terms of improving building and consumer perceptions of wood. What are some of the messages that the Wood Promotion Network gets across:
Build with Wood and Help Protect the EnvironmentOver 80% of Canadians believe that sustaining the environment is a major priority. Many of us do our part, by recycling newspapers, refusing or reusing shopping bags, and composting waste. But we may not realize that we make a much bigger impact on the environment through our choice of building materials. Due to sustainable forestry practices, the volume of wood in Canada’s productive forests increased by 35% between 1976 to 1991. Last year alone, over 700 million seedlings were planted. That’s about 25 trees planted for each Canadian. But how do we replace the thousands of tons of ore that went into steel beams or aluminum siding, or the millions of litres of petroleum that went into making plastic components? The answer is – we can’t. Those resources are finite. Once we consume them, they are gone forever. A study by the Canadian Research Alliance examined the relative environmental impacts of various building materials. The results clearly demonstrate not only that wood is a renewable resource, but also that the manufacture of wood products is cleaner, less wasteful, and consumes less energy than the alternatives. Life-cycle analysis shows that a steel wall requires 3 to 6 times more energy to extract, manufacture and construct than a wood wall. The steel wall also uses 25 times more water in its manufacture, and releases 3 to 6 times more carbon dioxide emissions. The manufacture of concrete produces 2 to 3 times more carbon dioxide than wood, and results in 5 times more solid waste. The production of aluminum generates 8 times more polluting emissions in the air and 300 times more in the water, than the manufacture of wood. The manufacture of aluminum siding requires 5 times more energy than wood. Construction is a $25 billion a year industry in Canada. That’s the equivalent of almost $900 for each Canadian, much of it spent on building materials. Source: http://www.cwc.ca/environment/green_facts/ Selecting Environmentally Friendly Flooring
Thinking of replacing that worn flooring in the front hallway? By shopping around, you can get information about the price, style, and maintenance of commonly-used flooring products. It is much harder to learn about the hidden impact of these products on the environment. To make an informed choice, consumers also want to know about the composition and manufacture of various flooring materials. Synthetic sheet flooring, such as cushion flooring, is made from non-renewable petroleum resources. Because it is non-biodegradable, scraps cannot be recycled. The manufacturing process is energy-intensive, depleting the supply of fossil fuels. Ceramic tiles are made by firing clay, a plentiful resource. However, the kilns used to fire the clay consume large quantities of energy. Ceramic tiles are not recyclable. Linoleum is made with renewable ingredients (linseed oil, cork, wood dust and dyes) that have been heat-cured and sealed, but it is not recyclable. Various chemicals are used for manufacturing, although less than are required for synthetic floor materials. So what can you select that is environmentally friendly as well as being durable, easy-to-care-for, beautiful and affordable? The answer is wood. Oak and maple hardwood flooring – solid plank, pre-finished wood flooring systems, parquet tiles and veneer – comes from wood, a renewable resource. Part of the energy used in the manufacturing process comes from wood waste materials. Veneer flooring is comprised of a surface of high quality hardwood laminated to a plywood or particle board backing, and packaged as tiles. Wood fibre waste from low grade wood is used in the backing, and high-grade wood is used in the surface veneer. When you’re shopping around, ask your retailer or contractor for more information from the flooring manufacturer. That way you can select a product that is attractive to the environment AND to your home. Source: http://www.cwc.ca/environment/green_facts/ Build that New Fence with Wood and Help Protect the EnvironmentWhen you shop for materials to build your new fence or deck, you probably think about things like appearance, ease of installation, and cost. But what about the cost to the environment of the building materials that we buy? Over 80% of Canadians believe that sustaining the environment is a major priority. Many of us do our part by recycling newspapers, adding extra insulation in our homes, and walking to the video store at the corner instead of driving. But we also make a major impact on the environment when we choose building materials, often without realizing it. Wood is a popular and attractive choice for many outdoor landscaping projects. Due to sustainable forestry practices, the volume of wood in Canada’s productive forests increased by 35% over the last 20 years. Last year alone, about 700 million seedlings were planted. That’s over 20 trees planted for each Canadian. But what about that chain-link fence, those concrete patios stones or that vinyl lounge chair? How do we replace the thousands of tons of ore that went into the manufacture of steel, or the millions of litres of petroleum that went into making plastic components? The answer is – we can’t. Those resources are finite. Once we consume them, they are gone forever. And the manufacturing process has added to the world’s pollution problems. A study by the Canadian Research Alliance examined the relative environmental impacts of various building materials. The results clearly demonstrate that the manufacture of wood products is cleaner, less wasteful, and consumes less energy than the alternatives. Life-cycle analysis shows that a steel wall requires 3 to 6 times more energy to extract, manufacture and construct than a wood wall. The steel wall also uses 25 times more water in its manufacture, and releases 3 to 6 times more carbon dioxide emissions. The manufacture of concrete produces 2 to 3 times more carbon dioxide than wood, and results in 5 times more solid waste. The production of aluminum generates 8 times more polluting emissions in the air and 300 times more in the water, than the manufacture of lumber. The manufacture of aluminum siding requires 5 times more energy than lumber. So when you go to buy the materials for that new fence or deck, consider the alternatives – and make an informed choice. Source: http://www.cwc.ca/environment/green_facts/ |
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April 5, 2009 No Comments
Sustainable Forest Management
Key Facts on Sustainable Forestry in Canada
Size
About half of Canada’s land mass is covered by forest, that is approximately 417 million hectares. Only ¼ of Canada’s forests are dedicated to forest management (119 million hectares), the remainder, for example, is either protected from harvesting, is of a non-commercial quality, or is commercial but not yet accessed or allocated.
Ownership
94% percent of Canada’s forests are publicly owned, while the remaining 6% is private property belonging to more than 425,000 landowners.
Harvest Levels
Canada harvests less than ½ of 1% of its commercial forest area each year, or ¼ of 1% of its total forest area. Moreover, it grows twice as much timber as it harvests. About ½ of the Canadian forest will NEVER be harvested. That never-to-be-logged Canadian forest is larger than California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana combined.
Fire, Insects & Disease
Did you know that Canada harvests less of its commercial forest each year (0.4%) than is taken by fire, insects and disease (0.5%).
Regeneration
By law all forests harvested on Canada’s public lands must be replaced. . More than half of the area harvested in Canada is left to regenerate naturally. Many tree species can reestablish themselves on a site without planting or seeding. These natural mechanisms include seeding from the adjacent forest, suckering of stumps and roots, and growth of young trees remaining on the harvested area. In summary, regeneration is accomplished by natural regeneration (53%), planting (43%), and aerial seeding (4%).
An Abundant and Growing Forest
The area of trees growing in Canada is growing not shrinking. In fact, during the 5 year period, 1990-1995, the United Nations FAO estimated a net increase of 4% in the area of trees growing in Canada’s commercial forests.
Helping Our Climate
Trees are living plants that ‘breathe’ to help them grow. As they breathe, they remove unwanted carbon dioxide from the air – a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming – and replace it with life sustaining oxygen.
Park System
Canada is the world leader in terms of area dedicated to its national and provincial park system for the use and enjoyment of Canadians and citizens around the world. Its national and provincial parks alone occupy some 56.8 million hectares. Compare that to the area of forests managed primarily for wood production in Canada – 119 million hectares – and one can quickly see that Canada’s forests are maintained for a variety of values and uses.
Original Forest Cover
Almost half of the Earth’s original forest cover is gone, much of it destroyed within the past three decades. In contrast, Canada has maintained over 90% of its forest cover and it has done so while being one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality forest products.
Forest Certification
Certification provides proof that forests are being managed by an independent 3rd party audit. Currently, if including CSA, SFI, FSC and ISO 14001 certifications, Canada has certifications covering some 115 million hectares of forest land- the largest certified forest area in the world! If however, one considers only those certifications to forestry-specific standards such as CSA, SFI, FSC, Canada has over 25 million hectares of forest land certified – of which 1 million is certified to FSC (see next bullet). However, the area of certifications to forestry-specific standards (CSA, SFI, FSC) is scheduled to grow considerably by 2006 given a new commitment by the Board of FPAC. It is also important to remember that the vast majority of wood coming from Canada’s forests are well-managed, certified or not. For more information on the forestry specific standards noted above or on forest management certification status in Canada, visit www.CertificationCanada.org.
FSC Forest Certification
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is not practical for small 10-100 acre parcels of land which are the primary source of high value hardwood in Canada. Costs to implement and maintain an FSC certification would be higher than the value of product derived. To be brief, FSC on small private lands managed for timber is conceptually unworkable in Canada. This point is made given that many environmental organizations lobby purchasers of Canadian forest products to specify FSC certified wood – this is an unrealistic demand for most small private woodlots in Canada. It should also be noted that even large scale commercial forestry operations in Canada for the most part are not pursuing FSC certifications for a variety of reasons. To date, 1 million of 25 million hectares of certified forest land in Canada is certified to the FSC Principles.
Key Facts on Sustainable Forest Products in Canada
What are the ATHENA™ Sustainable Materials Institute’s Life Cycle Facts in Support of Wood over Competing Products?
Total energy use: The wood building used the least energy. The concrete option required 1.7 times the energy for wood. The steel option required 2.4 times the energy. Wood simply does not require much energy to manufacture.
Greenhouse gases: The wood building had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. The steel building generated 1.45 times and the concrete building generated 1.81 times the greenhouse gases for wood.
Air pollution: The wood design had the lowest air pollution index. The steel building produced 1.42 times and the concrete building produced 1.67 times the air pollution index.
Solid waste: The wood design had the lowest solid waste. This takes into account both manufacturing and on-site construction waste. Steel produced 1.36 times and the concrete produced 1.96 times the solid waste. This means there is virtually no waste during the manufacturing process and the use of engineered wood products has radically reduced the on-site construction waste.
Ecological Resource Use: The wood design had the lowest ecological resource use index. Steel was 1.16 times and concrete was 1.97 times the index for wood. This factor compares the long-term effects of resource extraction. Although forestry affects a large area, reforestation means the effects are short term. Sustainable forest management practices help ensure that disruption is minimized.
Conclusion: The office building built with wood had lower environmental impact for energy use, greenhouse gases, air and water pollution and ecological resource extraction than the steel or concrete building. A similar case study of residential buildings (comparing wood, steel and concrete construction) produced similar findings in terms of wood’s superior environmental performance.
What are some of the key sustainable wood product messages that the Wood Promotion Network?
N. America’s forests are abundant and growing, based on satellite imagery.
Wood is the best insulator against heat and cold, which makes it the most energy efficient material that can help keep home energy bills in check.
Regardless of market volatility, wood is the most affordable building material you can use. Framing an average 3-bedroom home can cost up to 30% less with wood versus other framing materials.
New innovations in engineered wood products and pre-made panels and trusses help builders and homeowners keep framing costs down.
The production and use of wood is easier on the environment than any other building material. It takes less non-renewable fossil fuels and less energy to produce wood framing materials than alternative framing materials.
Wood is the world’s only 100% renewable building material and is manufactured with the organic power of solar energy.
Wood is the only major building material that is renewable. Canada’s sustainably managed forests ensure that there is an ample supply. New manufacturing technology allows every part of the tree to be used so that nothing is wasted. Advanced engineered wood products make use of fast growing species to produce high strength products without requiring large dimension timbers to meet building needs.
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| 2008 © Copyright Canadian Lumbermen’s Association. Content Management Powered by CuteNews. |
April 4, 2009 No Comments
Canadian Forest Lands
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| 2008 © Copyright Canadian Lumbermen’s Association. Content Management Powered by CuteNews. |
April 4, 2009 No Comments
REDWOOD GRADES
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Construction Heart/Deck Heart Uses Decks, posts, retaining walls, fences, garden structures, stairs or other outdoor uses in contact with the ground. |
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Merchantable Heart Uses Fences, retaining walls, garden structures or other outdoor uses in contact with the ground. |
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 Heartwood and Sapwood |
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Construction Common/Deck Common Uses Decking, fence boards and other above-ground garden uses that do not require heartwood’s insect and decay resistance. |
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Uses Fence boards, rails and other above-ground outdoor and garden uses. Also subflooring and temporary construction. |
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All Heartwood |
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Clear All Heart Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork. Also fine decks, hot tubs, garden structures, industrial storage and processing tanks.
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Heart B Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses. Quality decking, garden shelters and other outdoor uses in contact with the ground. |
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Clear
Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry,
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B Grade Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses; quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications. |
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CALIFORNIA REDWOOD ASSOCIATION · 1 888-CALREDWOOD · info@calredwood.org
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© 2005, California Redwood Association. All rights reserved.
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April 3, 2009 No Comments
Cedar Grades And Uses
TIMBER PRODUCTS | GRADES
| Clear Grades Clear cedar has a limited number of natural characteristics and is specified when appearance of the highest quality is desired. Clear grades of timbers are normally supplied green (unseasoned). When required, seasoning is achieved by air-drying. Knotty Grades |
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Surface Textures
Saw Textured The saw textured surface, obtained during the milling process which uses either circular or band saws, is present on all four sides.
Rougher Headed The lumber receives its texture from a milling process which uses roughened planer knives. The rough texture is clearly visible on all four sides.
Surfaced Four Sides (S4S) The smooth surface on all four sides presents a uniformly sized product with a high quality appearance. Sizes from 2×4 (51mm x 102mm) up to 6×6 in. (152mm x 152mm) are generally available. Larger sizes are produced on special orders.
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| No. 2 and Better Clear | |
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This grade should be specified when the finest quality rough lumber is desired. The lumber is sound and well manufactured. Its natural characteristics do not detract from the woods fine appearance. Grading Rule Paragraph Export R List 401 |
| D and Better Clear | |
| This grade consists of D Clear, C Clear, and B Clear.
The C and Better Clear grade offers good appearance in high quality, well manufactured lumber. Suitable for high quality landscape structures and as exposed posts and beams in heavy timber construction. WRCEA members produce this grade without cut-outs. In most cases, this grade is sold with a specified allowance of D grade. D Clear grade permits larger and more numerous natural characteristics which are widely accepted in the construction of outdoor structures. Some pieces of D Clear may require trimming to yield clear lengths for the intended use. Available surfaced or rough textured. |
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| Appearance Knotty | |
| A non structural product manufactured to meet the appearance requirements of quality projects. This material has highly restricted wane allowances to give well defined corners. Contains no holes or other characteristics. Represents good value for appearance end uses. Available rough sawn or rougher headed in nominal 2″ (51mm) and thicker sizes.
Note: Upon request, Appearance Knotty timbers are available with structural grading. Be certain to specify Appearance Knotty structural lumber when strength characteristics are required. Grading Rule Paragraph |
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| No. 2 and Better Structural | |
| Material of this grade is evaluated for structural strength characteristics. The classification includes pieces meeting the grades of Select Structural, No. 1 Structural, and No. 2 Structural. Lumber of this grade is intended for engineered applications where strength is more important than appearance. Available surfaced or rough textured.
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April 1, 2009 No Comments
Group buys up Forest Land
Group buys forest to log, shield it from development
By Tim Reiterman
June 15, 2007
With 100% financing from the Bank of America, a nonprofit conservation group has purchased 50,000 acres of redwood forest along the Mendocino County coast north of Fort Bragg for $65 million and plans to use it for commercial timber harvesting while shielding the land from development.
“We know that this property without protection would have been subdivided into smaller parcels,” Art Harwood, a sawmill operator and president of the Redwood Forest Foundation, told reporters Thursday in the redwood grove outside the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. “Every year in the U.S., millions of acres of forest are bought and sold, and the pressure is particularly high in Northern California.”
Bank and foundation officials said the deal is the first of its kind that relies entirely on private financing.
However, much of the debt is to be paid through the sale of a conservation easement to another nonprofit group that plans to seek state funding.
Harwood said the land, acquired from Hawthorne Timber Co., was heavily logged in the 1980s and ’90s and now consists primarily of second-growth redwood and Douglas fir. “There are a few old-growth trees scattered out there, but we will not be cutting them,” he said.
Foundation officials said they plan to do very little logging at first, and never on more than 3% of the property a year to ensure a long-term supply of jobs and timber. The Redwood Forest Foundation, which is dedicated to restoring working forests, plans to use logging revenue to help pay off the 20-year loan.
The foundation, based in the southern Mendocino County town of Gualala, intends to sell the conservation easement to the Conservation Fund, which plans to use state money approved by voters last year in Proposition 84, the clean water, parks and coastal bond measure.
“We haven’t negotiated the cost of the easement and the terms,” said Chris Kelly, who manages California operations for the fund. “But our intention is to have an agreement allowing no subdivision, development or conversion to non-forest uses, and possibly there will be a cap on harvesting.”
The land is north of Fort Bragg and about 50 miles north of two other parcels purchased recently by the Conservation Fund.
March 28, 2009 No Comments
