Informative Downloads
How Selecting Materials Impacts Our Lives
There are many factors to consider when choosing a building or decorating material. Some impact the environment more, while others are a cost consideration. Be knowledgeable when making a selection. Compare factors in a product’s life cycle with those of American hardwoods.
| What to Consider for Material Selection | How American Hardwoods Compare |
|---|---|
| Is the material natural or man-made? | American hardwoods are an all-natural material. |
| Is it a healthy material? | With hardwood floors for example, there is no place to harbor pollen or animal dander, or for mold to grow. |
| Does it require a lot of processing? | Cutting and drying of lumber is all that is required. |
| How much of the material is utilized? | Virtually every part of a log is used as lumber or by-products, including bark, sawdust, and scrap. |
| How does importing products impact the environment? | Regionally sourced American hardwoods don’t incur burning fossil fuels to transport them across the ocean. |
| Why is it important to consider a material’s origin? | Some foreign countries have no governing agencies to assure quality standards or environmentally safe manufacturing practices. In the U.S., quality standards and safe manufacturing practices are regulated by U.S. agencies and associations. |
| Are harmful chemicals needed for manufacturing and on-going maintenance? | With the proper finish, hardwood products require minimal maintenance, like dusting or occasional buffing. |
| What maintenance and repair costs are associated with the material? | Minimal maintenance is required. Typical repair is refinishing. |
| What is the useful life of the material? How does it compare with other materials? | A solid hardwood floor can last up to 125 years or longer with several refinishings. Museum quality furniture can last centuries. |
| Can the material be recycled or repurposed? | Hardwood products can be repurposed or used as a combustible fuel. |
| What happens to the material after its useful life? | If in a landfill, hardwoods naturally decay and return to nature, unlike many synthetics and plastics which will remain almost indefinitely. |
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.
