You hear a lot about "green" or sustainable construction methods. When you analyze all the factors from harvesting to milling to the end result of the building, including energy consumption, local participation, etc., the most sustainable material is "wood". I've had many clients who want to be responsible home owners in terms of the environment but inevitably they want materials that, while they may be long lasting and need little maintenance, these materials are not "green" at all. In the three houses I have built for myself, I have used as little metal and plastics as I can. Cedar siding, wood soffits and facias, hardwood floors, wood windows, etc. Staining the siding once every 10 years and sometimes not all of it, is hardly high maintenance. Trees such as cedar replace themselves often with no effort on our part. In terms of energy conservation, more wood rots in the forest than could be used to heat every house in the country several times over. It is unsurpassed as a building material offering a natural expression in design and construction. Because of our proximity to a vast supply, we should be using much more wood in our buildings.
5 Comments
8/21/2012 09:35:00 pm
This is the first time I am reading your post about green building and admire that you posted article which gives users lot of information regarding particular topic thanks for this share.
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10/2/2012 09:19:37 pm
Thank you for sharing this article. I found it very useful and will certainly share it with others.
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Bob J.
10/4/2012 03:04:41 am
Thanks for your comments. I have not found easteners readily willing to use wood on the exteriors of their buildings but since hardwood is so plentiful, it is used extensively for flooring. Often it turns out to be the most economical choice, which is a good thing.
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10/7/2012 11:08:51 pm
The links and resources posted by you in the blog are very useful for me! I was looking for this exact and particular information for a long time. Thanks.
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