Simply put, wood is green. There is not a greener building material on the planet than responsibly-harvested wood.
Hardwoods
It takes less carbon to process and deliver finished wood products to building sites and manufacturing facilities than any other bona fide building product. This is especially true in North America where responsible forestry practices have been in place for over a generation. Did you know that our home state of New Hampshire was 90% deforested in 1860 and today is 87% forested?
Wood, when harvested and preserved in the form of a wood component such as a piece of quality custom cabinetry, sequesters carbon as it grows. The process of photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and replaces it with pure oxygen. As long as the wood from harvested trees is not burned or left to rot on the forest floor, that carbon is forever removed from the atmosphere. Sustainably-grown trees used in wood products are green house emissions fighters!
Composite Panels
Composite panels such as plywood have long been an economical and green alternative to solid wood. In fact, for many applications such as paneling and quality custom cabinets, composite panels provide superior stability and strength. They are inherently green because they most often use down-cycled production materials and wood waste from other wood manufacturing operations. However, in order for them to be truly green, the wood must be responsibly harvested and the glues and adhesives must be non-toxic and urea formaldehyde free.
Veneers and Laminates
These are the products that are applied to composite panels to make them beautiful and functional. Using sustainably grown and harvested wood veneers over a green composite core uses significantly less wood than a solid material and puts secondary wood wastes to good use. Laminates refers to plastic laminates. These products get high marks from green builders for their durability.
Finishes and Adhesives
Most wood finishes and adhesives emit volatile organic compounds when applied and in some cases, continue to off-gas well after they are put to use. This can adversely affect indoor air quality and hurt the environment. Environmentally responsible finishes and glues are water and soy based and do not have any added urea formaldehyde.
Green News
- Sustainable Palm Oil -
General Mills is the latest company to announce it will switch to palm oil supplied through sustainable and responsible sources. According to a report from Greenbiz, the company hopes to meet this goal by 2015 and purchase palm oil that does not threaten the rainforest or its biodiversity. Other companies, including Unilever, Nestle and Burger King have changed their palm oil suppliers in recent years, while Cadbury eliminated it from its dairy milk chocolate bars. Cleaning product company Seventh Generation offers certification credits to its suppliers using responsible and sustainable practices to support their programs.
- Largest Wind Farm -
A Britain offshore wind farm is now the world’s largest and can potentially power 200,000 homes, according to Yahoo! Green. The farm has 100 turbines, with plans to install a total of 314 and was built off the south east coast by Swedish energy company Vattenfall. The farm is part of an effort to increase Britain’s renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
- IBM Gets LEED Gold -
An IBM data center in North Carolina was certified LEED Gold and is the company’s first building to receive this designation. The center was built in an old building and utilized about 95 percent of its materials, the Triangle Business Journal reported. Another 25 percent of materials purchased were recycled, according to IBM. Other features include a rainwater collection system, a reflective roof and a sensor network, all which will reportedly reduce energy costs by 15 percent annually.
- Emission Flights Tested -
An Alaska Airlines test flight over Puget Sound showed a reduced fuel consumption and emissions during landing. The test was part of Alaska Air Group's Greener Skies project and used satellites to guide the aircraft. This was the third test flight since the project began last summer, aimed at reducing the impact on the Puget Sound area.
- Ozone Could Recover -
A report from U.N. scientists states the ozone layer could recover to pre-1980s levels by 2045-60, though it will take longer for the hole over Antarctica (2073). Treehugger reports the ozone layer recovery is partly due to the Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, which phased out CFCs and other ozone depleting chemicals.
- Greener Retail Stores -
Well-known retailers, including L.L. Bean, Office Depot and Kohl's, are joining the movement for greener stores. Kohl's details their new store prototypes on their "Green Scene" site, noting efficient water usage, improved air quality and regionally sourced materials. L.L. Bean currently has nine LEED certified retail stores, including one award for Gold.
- eWaste Litters India -
What happens to cell phones, computers and other electronics when we are done with them? They can end up piling up in other countries like India, where e-waste adds up to approximately 1,000 tons per day. This amount could increase by 500 percent by 2020. Some e-waste enters Asian countries illegally, according to Tiny Green Bubble, and is salvaged for parts. In addition to the problem with mass amounts of waste, children living in these countries are also being exposed to dangerous chemicals.
- New Coral Reefs Found -
New coral reefs were found in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tel Aviv, Israel in an area known for sparse sea life. An exploration team from the University of Haifa’s School of Marine Sciences piloting the exploration vessel Nautilus made the discovery. The reefs are located seven hundred meters under sea and may help scientists learn more about their environment and survival.
- Walmart Produce Plans -
Walmart announced a new plan for sustainable agriculture that will help farmers with smaller operations expand their businesses and increase consumer’s access to fresh food. The plan has three major goals: to support farmers and their communities; produce food by reducing environmental impacts and waste; and sustainably source agriculture products, focusing on palm oil and beef production. In the United States, the Heritage Agriculture program will source produce from identified states and regions where agriculture is most successful. More information on the plan is available on Walmart’s corporate website.
- Coffee Cup Recycling -
Starbucks is currently using New York City as a test site for the recycling probability of its coffee cups. The company, which started the test in mid-September and will conclude it in November, is collecting cups at its NYC locations, which will then be sent off to a recycling facility. Currently, Starbucks is only looking at the cups, not the lids or sleeves, but is aiming to provide reusable or recyclable cups by 2015. The company currently uses 3 approximately billion coffee cups per year which pile up in landfills.
- Temperatures on the Rise -
The past decade was the warmest according to scientists, blaming global warming and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This data was included in the annual "State of the Climate" report released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in July. Temperatures have climbed steadily, with the 1980s considered the warmest decade until each year in the 90s and 2000s exceeded those numbers.
- Dead Zones Increase -
Ocean dead zones are increasing at a dramatic rate, according to a report from the U.S. government released in September. An ocean dead zone is where hypoxia or low levels of oxygen are found. Marine life have a harder time surviving in these areas and abandon them in search of more oxygen. According to reports, the number of dead zones has increased from 12 in the 1960s to over 300 today. Hypoxia can be caused by several factors, including an increase in phytoplankton, agricultural runoff and overfishing.
- Efficient Appliances -
The Department of Energy is proposing a new rule that will make refrigerator and freezers 25% more efficient in 2014. This change could amount for $1.4 million in economy savings and reduce pollution from power plants while also saving consumers money on their electric bills. While the refrigerator uses more energy than most appliances, future upgrades are planned for air conditioners, furnaces, washers, dryers and dishwashers.
- Staples Goes Sustainable -
Staples is asking its major suppliers to be more sustainable environmentally, economically and socially. According to the retail chain, this “Race to the Top” program will guide future purchasing decisions. Staples is asking suppliers to look at more environmentally friendly packaging over the next six months, with the hope that the amount of waste will be reduced both in retail packaging and in bulk shipments.
- Study the Environment -
Education Editor Edward Fiske has compiled a list of the 10 best schools for students interested in environmental studies. From "Fiske Guide to Colleges," they are: Colby College and College of the Atlantic, both in Maine; University of California, Davis; University of Colorado at Boulder; Dartmouth College in New Hampshire; Eckerd College in Florida; The Evergreen State College in Washington; University of North Carolina at Asheville; Tulane University in Louisiana and University of Washington.
- Buy Food in Bulk -
Buying food in bulk has both economic and environmental benefits, reports Earth911. Bulk purchases reduce the amount of packaging, cut down on the number of trips to the grocery store, encourage healthier eating at home and lessen the amount of garbage and materials that need to be recycled. While not all foods have a decent shelf life, many items like nuts, pasta, rice and cereal will keep for long periods of time. These items also come in handy for trail mix, soups, salads and other homemade recipes.
- Scott Goes Tube Free -
Kimberly-Clark will test out Scott Naturals rolls of toilet paper with no cardboard tube on the inside in an attempt to reduce paper waste. The new rolls will be on the shelves of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores in November. According to Greenbiz.com, 17 billion paper tubes are produced annually in the United States an account for 160 million pounds of waste. The United States’ paper recycling rate currently stands at 63 percent, which includes all types of paper. In a Scott Naturals study, 37 percent of consumers said they recycled toilet paper tubes often, while 50 percent threw them away.
- Green Electronics -
Greenpeace released their Guide to Greener Electronics, ranking the greenest electronics companies, with Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Philips topping the chart and holding their positions from last year. Next in line are HP, Samsung and Motorola. At the bottom of the list are Microsoft and Nintendo. Companies are rated based on several points including toxic chemicals criteria, energy and e-waste issues. For the full chart, visit Greenpeace.org.
