Buy Wood Products to Benefit All

Your choice of building materials affects what happens to our state's forests, watersheds, wild life, and how much we are able to reduce carbon emissions.
 
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies wood products to ensure healthy forests over time. You can rely on the FSC symbol to guarantee that you are not supporting the destruction of our forests.

      How You Can Protect our Forests
         • Ask for FSC, look for the label, and buy FSC wood products
           for all your building projects – whether you are building a new house
           or remodeling.
         •  Buy recycled wood.
         • Use alternative building products such as insulated concrete forms, 
           rammed earth, straw bale, etc.
         • Learn more at: www.fscus.org .

Forest Stewardship Council

Green Building Points

The two major Green Building Rating Systems reward owners for using FSC-certified wood or using alternatives to new wood. Cost varies with the product and market availablity, but in most cases is competitive or slightly more.

Here's how you can earn up to 29 points on Build It Green's  GreenPoint Rating System:
•  2 points for using a minimum of 40% FSC-certified framing lumber; 2 additional points for
    using a minimum 70%, and 2 addtional points for using 100%.
•  1 point for using a minimum of 40% FSC-certified panel products; 1 additional point for
    using a minimum 70%, and 2 addtional points for using 100%.
•  3 points for using FSC-certified engineered lumber such as I-joists, beams, headers, web
    trusses, glue-lams, and roof trusses.
•  2 points for recycled content (no virgin plastic) or FSC-certified decking.
•  4 points for using environmetally preferable flooring for a minimum of 75% of the floor area.
    This could include FSC-certified wood, reclaimed or refinished wood, rapidly renewable
    flooring such as bamboo, cork, or linoleum or exposed concrete.
•  1 point each for cabinets, interior trim, shelving, doors, and countertops, (for a total of
    5 points) for using environmentally preferable materials for a minimum of 50% of the interior
    finishes. This could be FSC-certified wood, reclaimed wood, rapidly renewable materials, or
    materials with high recycled content. An additional point is available for using a minimum
    80% of each item (for a total of 5 more points).
Learn more at  http://www.builditgreen.org/

Here's how to earn points on the US Green Building Council's LEED (2009) rating system:
•  1 point for using a minimum of 50% (based on cost) of wood-based materials that are
    certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council's principles and criteria.
•  1 bonus point for exemplary performance for using 95% (based on cost) or more
    FSC-certified wood, of the project's total new wood.
•  1 point for using rapidly renewable building materials for 2.5% of the value of all the
    building materials used on the project. These are materials that can be grown and
    harvested in less than 10 years, such as cork, bamboo, natural rubber, wheat, cotton,
    straw, and linseed (linoleum).
•  1 point for using salvaged, refurbished, or reused materials for at least 5% (based on
    cost) of all the materials used on the project.
Learn more at  http://www.usgbc.org/ .

FSC Wood Products

• Framing Lumber   FSC Retailers    FSC Engineered Framing (manufacturers)
• Wood Flooring   FSC Flooring
• Wood Doors   FSC Doors (manufacturers)    Recycled & Reclaimed Wood
• Wood Windowss   FSC Windows (manufacturers)   Some manufaturers can supply FSC-certified wood windows for an additional charge. Consider using aluminum, fiberglass, or vinyl,
• Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets: Ask your cabinet supplier to use FSC- certified wood. Consider using bamboo.
• Built-ins and Closet Systems FSC Retailers
• Wood Decking and Fencing:   FSC Retailers   Consider using composite plastic and recycled decking material like Trex.