Using Wood for Responsible, Renewable Building and Remodeling

Where Wood is Used     The Athena Model The Athena Model was developed by the Sustainable Materials Institute for use by architects, builders, planners, and consumers. The Athena Model compares different building materials based on their ecological superiority across the six distinct stages of a material's life expectancy. The Athena Model was used to compare wood, steel, and concrete from the time of resource extraction, through manufacturing, to on-site construction, throughout the occupancy of the home, its demolition, and the ultimate disposal, reuse, or recycling of that building material. Results show that wood is a more environmentally conscious building material than steel or concrete in terms of energy use; production of greenhouse gases; air and water pollution; production of solid waste; and overall ecological resource use. In every category, the Athena Model found that wood has the lowest environmental impact in each of the six categories listed above. Since it is a renewable resource, with high insulative properties, high recycling and resource recovery rates, and low pollution rates in harvesting and milling, wood is considered a sustainable and environmentally friendly building material. To view the model and obtain a limited version for use in building projects, log on to the Athena website.         A quick house tour will showcase wood's ever-present place in daily life. Wood-framed homes are by far the most common construction in America today. Spruce, pine, or fir may be used. "Typically it's spruce," says Mike Gervais, president of Prime Construction in Burlington, Vermont. "Pine is usually saved for interior and exterior trims. It's straighter grained and better quality," he says. Pine and cedar are also popular for exterior siding—clapboards, shakes, and shingles. "But with trim we also have other options like finger-jointed trim and culled wood products," Gervais says. These are engineered lumber solutions that recover wood scraps and bind them in an epoxy or resin solution to create superior-strength, dimensionally stable framing and trim pieces. Hardwoods like maple, cherry, and oak are typically used for high-profile applications like floors, trim, cabinetry, and furniture. Mahogany, cedar, and ironwood are popular choices for decks. Exterior doors are frequently made of hardwood and finished to bring out the rich grain and color of the wood. Wood Makes Sense Wood is still the dominant choice for trim because it is easily milled, profiled, and installed. Wood can be shaped, sanded, painted, or stained, making it an extremely versatile building product. Wood is easily repaired or replaced. Dings, nicks, and dents can be sanded and refinished. Trim can be changed. Even the house itself is easily expanded or altered when wood framing is used. Other materials, such as concrete, are far less forgiving and require significant demolition and corresponding expense should the homeowner wish to change the shape, structure, or existing openings in the home. Zero Waste Besides being adaptable, wood is a practical building material. Mills make wise use of wood, for both economic and environmental reasons. Nearly the entire tree is used. Bark is removed and used for mulch and decorative landscaping. First cuts and unusable board feet are recovered or culled for use in engineered wood products. Board ends are cut up and sold as hobby wood. Sawdust and shavings are packaged for animal bedding. In some mills, scrap wood is even used to produce energy or steam to keep the mill and kilns running. "All these lumber companies are looking at ways to have zero waste," Gervais explains. Whether it's low-waste mill management, engineered lumber solutions, culled wood programs, or scrap recovery, economical use of timber and all of its products makes sense in today's world.

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