Did you know that wood products make up 47 percent of all industrial raw materials manufactured in the U.S., but consume only four percent of the total energy required to manufacture those raw materials?
www.apawood.org, Engineered Wood Association
Few building materials possess hardwoods’ overall environmental attributes. So when making a material selection, ask these questions and evaluate how American hardwoods compare:
- Is the material natural or man-made?
- Is the material part of the carbon “solution” or does it enhance the problem?
- Does it require a lot of processing?
- How much of the material is utilized?
- Are harmful chemicals needed for manufacturing?
- What is the useful life of the material?
- Can it be recycled or repurposed?
- What happens to the material after its useful life?
