Environmental
Benefits
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
| Wood flooring
is renowned as a feature that wears well and minimizes the accumulation
of dust and microbes. And the engineered wood products used
for sheathing and for beams and joists are made with glues that
don’t contribute to allergies. |
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/
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