Green building is booming in the United States. By 2013, green building is expected to represent 25 percent of all commercial and institutional building starts and 20 percent of residential construction, up from 2 percent in 2005, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. And FSC-certified wood was found to be the most specified green-building product in McGraw-Hill’s database of 60,000 project specifications collected annually, surpassing even EnergyStar.
FSC-US is committed to providing quality education and service to the green building community. With over a thousand FSC chain-of-custody certified construction product suppliers in the U.S. alone, and thousands more globally, it is easy to find and use FSC-certified wood. See the links at left.
Since its inception, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system has recognized FSC as the world’s only credible forest certification system This recognition has served as one of the more important drivers for FSC market demand as well new forest certification.
What is a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the measurement of greenhouse gases produced from day-to-day living through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, transportation and product manufacturing. Measured in tons of carbon dioxide, it is a current concern for many environmentalists who believe greenhouse gases are a contributing source to global warming. Hardwoods play an important role in reducing America’s overall carbon footprint.
• When a young forest is growing, it produces one ton of oxygen and absorbs 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of wood.
• Trees actually sequester carbon into the wood, meaning it will not be released into the atmosphere.
• Carbon emissions associated with manufacturing wood products are less than the carbon stored within the wood during its growth cycle.
Fast Facts on North American Hardwoods
• Homegrown – Don’t search the globe for renewable and sustainable materials: North American hardwoods fit the bill! From alder and cherry, to the oaks and walnut—to name just a few—the North American hardwoods have been bringing warmth and beauty to the built environment for centuries.
• Selection – Nearly two dozen abundant species provide plenty of color, grain and pattern. North American hardwood forests offer more choices than any other temperate hardwood forest in the world.
• The Natural Choice – North American hardwoods are the natural choice for environmentally conscious builders, architects and designers looking to specify green materials.
• Healthy – North American hardwoods are ideal for healthy environments. They don’t trap dust, dirt and other allergens. Low-VOC finishes keep hardwoods looking great and performing well.
• Renewing Resource – The USDA Forest Service reports that more hardwoods grow than are harvested each year.
Since 1953, the volume of hardwoods in American forests has increased 119%. Supply is increasing, and it is sustainable.
• Natural Regeneration – By mirroring natural occurrences, hardwood forestry practices are a long-established form of biomimicry that supports natural regeneration.
• Responsible Harvesting – In North American hardwood forestry, the predominant harvesting method is single-tree selection—not clear-cutting. Foresters choose individual trees for harvest based on a complex array of considerations.
• Life Cycle Costing – When considering life cycle costing, the useful life of North American hardwoods can span generations, making them more favorable and cost effective than most other materials.
• Energy Efficient – It takes less energy to make products from wood than other materials. Making products from aluminum, glass, plastic, cement or brick can require as much as 126 times more energy than making them from wood.
• Carbon Negative – Trees reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by removing carbon dioxide, storing carbon and releasing oxygen.
• Easy on the Environment – Virtually every part of a log is used as lumber or by-products, and finished products are re-useable, recyclable and biodegradable.
• Certification – Only about 14% of U.S. forests are certified because 69% of all timberland in the U.S. is owned by private individuals and firms.
