Environmental Benefits

• Green by Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood
• Addressing Negative Perceptions and Campaigns
• Build with Wood and Help Protect the Environment
• Selecting Environmentally Friendly Flooring
• Build that New Fence with Wood and Help Protect the Environment

Green by Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood

The 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?

• 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.

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 Campaigns

According 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:

• 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. (WPN AR2001).
• 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. (WPN AR2001).
• Wood is the world’s only 100% renewable building material and is manufactured with the organic power of solar energy. (WPN AR2001).
• 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. (WPN AR2001).

Build with Wood and Help Protect the Environment

Over 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 Environment

When 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/
Click here for more green facts on trusses, building basements, whole buildings and more!

Knotty Grades
Knotty cedar presents a more rustic appearance and is typically supplied green (unseasoned) in the appearance and structural grades. When required, seasoning is achieved by air-drying except for grades of Light Framing and Structural Joists and Planks which are available kiln-dried.

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.

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
Proprietary

Dimensional Stability
Western Red Cedar wood has excellent dimensional stability because of its low wood density and low shrinkage factor. A major contributor to this stability is the fact that its moisture content at the fibre saturation point is 18 to 23%, compared to 25 to 30% in most Canadian softwoods. As a result, Western Red Cedar shrinks and swells minimally, displaying only small movements with changes in humidity. Lower absorption of water is a result of the high extractive content blocking absorption sites. This property contributes to Western Red Cedar’s suitability for use in paneling, mouldings and a number of other applications such as saunas where dimensional stability and water repellency is important.

Thermal and Insulating Properties
Western Red Cedar has good insulation value because of its low wood density and coarse texture. It is the best insulator among the most common available softwood species and is far superior to brick, concrete and steel. This property ensures that homes built with Western Red Cedar will be cooler in the heat of summer and warmer in winter as opposed to homes using denser species or man-made products. Western Red Cedar’s ability to dampen vibrations is an important acoustical property which makes it particularly effective as paneling and moulding where it is desirable to reduce or confine ne noise.

Flame Spreading Rate
The flame-spread rating of Western Red Cedar is 67 to 73 (Class II rating) and the smoke developed classification is 98. Both of these are used to regulate the use of materials where potential to generate smoke or smoke control movement is important. Due to its low flame-spread rating, it will perform better than most dense softwoods which have flame-spread ratings around 100. Western Red Cedar has a flame spreading rate and a smoke-developed classification that are considerably below the maximum limits set by most building codes.

Finishing and Workability
The lack of pitch or resinous extractives that are soluble in paint vehicles contributes to Cedar’s good finishing properties. Cedar takes a variety of coatings, paints and stains exceptionally well, particularly when dried and properly primed. Western Red Cedar is among the easiest timbers to work with because of its straight grain and uniform texture. It planes and sands cleanly and, because of its low wood density, requires little energy to saw or otherwise work. Cedar also glues well with a wide range of adhesives and gluing conditions.

B.C. wood products you buy come from forests that are being regenerated, where wildlife habitat is protected and the biodiversity of the forest is maintained.

Government Regulations
95% of B.C.’s land base is publicly owned, and British Columbian’s demand strict regulations that balance the environmental, recreational and economic values of their forests for the long term. B.C. has forest legislation with tough regulations and standards that set strict conditions for companies, licensed by government, to harvest public forests.

Forest and Range Practices Act - Forest companies must develop plans that describe strategies they will use and the results they will get. See Forest and Range Practices Act

Land Use Planning – B.C. enforces protection , resource development and special management to conserve ecological and cultural values.

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B.C. has 12 million hectares (almost 30 million acres) of protected lands where no forestry, mining or industrial development is allowed – an area as big as the State of New York, and larger than Austria and the Netherlands combined. Since 1992, B.C. has doubled its protected land base to more than 12%.

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14% of BC land is designated for special management , which means other values such as wildlife habitat take precedence over logging.

Setting Harvesting Levels – This process involves a detailed technical analysis, including public comment and a review of non-timber values such as wildlife and fish habitat, soils, water, and recreation values. It ensures that all harvest levels are based on the latest information, practices and government policies, both economic and environmental. See Harvesting Techniques

Reforestation – Provincial laws require that all harvested areas be regenerated promptly after harvesting. Native species are used and forest companies are legally obligated to ensure regeneration success. See Reforestation

Forest Practices Board
An independent watchdog, the Forest Practices Board strengthens government forest regulatory regime. It is a combination auditor general and ombudsman that reflects the public’s interest by promoting stewardship. The Forest Practices Board holds both government and the forest industry accountable for forestry practices. See Forest Practices Board

Professional Accountability
Trained resource professionals, such as foresters, agrologists, engineers, geoscientists and biologists, ensure B.C. meets the high standards needed for sustainable forest management. They all must belong to regulatory bodies if they wish to practise in B.C.

Research Capabilities
B.C. has an exceptional concentration of forestry research capacity, including universities, provincial and federal government operations, industry research laboratories, technical institutes and other organizations. Through provincial, federal and private funding sources, B.C. and its forest sector are committed to gathering and applying new knowledge in the science of sustainable forest management.

Applying the Latest Science
Where forest companies were once encouraged to clean up harvest areas, forest professionals know that debris such as the stumps, branches and fallen trees left on the forest floor after harvesting are critical to manage biodiversity. They provide habitat for plants, animals and insects, and a source of nutrients for soil development.

How B.C. Scores High compliance rates. High level of third-party certification.