| When the subject of lumber is renewable, recyclable | | | | just described, cleaning out the old to allow for the |
| and sustainable come up in conversations surrounding | | | | smaller new trees to flourish. Creating a continuing life |
| green products many have differing opinions. For | | | | cycle of usable products that can be recycled that is |
| decades the lumber industry has been bashed for | | | | not harmful or toxic in any way. Many claim that steel |
| bad practices in managing our environment. Yes in the | | | | studs are greener than wood studs. If the life cycle |
| past there have been some bad practices but in the | | | | of a steel stud versus the life cycle of a wood stud |
| United States our forests are managed in ways they | | | | is compared, lumber is far greener than steel. It |
| many don't even understand. When some talk about | | | | takes more energy to create a steel stud and the |
| the lumber industry they portray companies that are | | | | renewable factors of wood are far better. Yes steel |
| eliminating the forests. That is just not the case. Let's | | | | can be recycled but with the use of far more energy. |
| look at the nature life cycle of a forest if humans | | | | Ore comes from the ground and is not renewable like |
| never stepped foot inside. Trees grow and drop | | | | growing a tree. Not all lumber companies manage the |
| seeds and more trees grow. The forest continues | | | | forests like they should. The same as all car |
| overtime to thicken and the large trees kill out the | | | | companies don't produce fuel efficient cars. So finding |
| smaller trees creating dead down fall. Over years | | | | a certified green dealer is important if you want to |
| some of this down fall decays and returns to the | | | | make sure your wood products are considered green. |
| earth. This process continues to create overgrown | | | | The two leading wood certification programs in the |
| forests and more dry trees. | | | | US are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and SFI |
| Fire is eventually the remedy that cleanses the forest | | | | (Sustainable Forestry Initiative). USGBC only |
| and starts the process all over. Nature causes such | | | | recognizes FSC while NAHB National Green Building |
| as beetles can kill off a complete forest and again | | | | Standards recognizes both. So from this is wood |
| fire is the remedy to restore the forest. A well | | | | "Green and Sustainable"? You decide. |
| managed forest can be looked at similar the life cycle | | | | |