1. The Ideal Green Material

2. Green Building LEED LEED “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” U.S. Green Building Council U.S. Green Building Council Green Globes Design Green Globes Design Energy and Environment Canada Energy and Environment Canada NAHB Green NAHB Green National Green Building Program National Green Building Program National Association of Home Builders National Association of Home Builders

3. Attributes of Green Building Uses renewable materials Uses renewable materials Uses recycled or reused materials Uses recycled or reused materials Reduces energy input Reduces energy input Improves energy efficiency Improves energy efficiency Reduces fossil fuel consumption Reduces fossil fuel consumption Uses local materials (transportation) Uses local materials (transportation) Reduces greenhouse gas emissions Reduces greenhouse gas emissions Reduces solid waste Reduces solid waste Reduces materials consumption Reduces materials consumption Reduces water pollution Reduces water pollution Reduces air pollution Reduces air pollution Reduces human health hazards Reduces human health hazards Reduces impact on habitats and biodiversity Reduces impact on habitats and biodiversity Reduces impacts of disposal at end of materials’ lifespan Reduces impacts of disposal at end of materials’ lifespan

4. “Life-cycle analysis” (LCA) or Life Cycle Inventory/Life Cycle Assessment “Life-cycle analysis” (LCA) or Life Cycle Inventory/Life Cycle Assessment

5. What is LCI/LCA? LCI/LCA is a method for quantifying the environmental impacts of material use LCI/LCA is a method for quantifying the environmental impacts of material use It requires evaluation of a wide variety of environmental impacts It requires evaluation of a wide variety of environmental impacts It is a cradle-to-grave analysis It is a cradle-to-grave analysis

6. Fundamentals of LCI/LCA Stages in Life Cycle Environmental Impacts Extraction (harvest) Extraction (harvest) Embodied Energy Embodied Energy Transportation Transportation Material Usage Material Usage Manufacturing Manufacturing Carbon Footprint Carbon Footprint Distribution Distribution Air Pollution Air Pollution Use Use Water Pollution Water Pollution Maintenance Maintenance Solid Waste Solid Waste Disposal or Recycling Disposal or Recycling Reuse, Recycling, Disposal Reuse, Recycling, Disposal

7. Case Studies: Houses CORRIM Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials U.S. – Atlanta & Minneapolis U.S. – Atlanta & Minneapolis 2,000-2,100 sq. ft. home 2,000-2,100 sq. ft. home http://www.corrim.org/ http://www.corrim.org/ http://www.corrim.org/ ATHENA ATHENA Sustainable Materials Institute ATHENA Sustainable Materials Institute Canada – Toronto Canada – Toronto 2,400 sq. ft. home 2,400 sq. ft. home http://www.cwc.ca/NR/rd onlyres/FBEC3574-62E5- 44E0-8448- D143370DCF03/0/Energy AndEnvironment.pdf http://www.cwc.ca/NR/rd onlyres/FBEC3574-62E5- 44E0-8448- D143370DCF03/0/Energy AndEnvironment.pdf http://www.cwc.ca/NR/rd onlyres/FBEC3574-62E5- 44E0-8448- D143370DCF03/0/Energy AndEnvironment.pdf http://www.cwc.ca/NR/rd onlyres/FBEC3574-62E5- 44E0-8448- D143370DCF03/0/Energy AndEnvironment.pdf

8. Case Studies The studies compared: The studies compared: Wood frame Wood frame Steel frame Steel frame Concrete construction Concrete construction Construction styles and materials varied in the three locations, reflecting local building practices Construction styles and materials varied in the three locations, reflecting local building practices Atlanta: concrete block on a concrete slab Atlanta: concrete block on a concrete slab Toronto: Prefab concrete system Toronto: Prefab concrete system

9. Embodied Energy

10. Manufacture of materials Manufacture of materials Transportation (sometimes between multiple manufacturing facilities) Transportation (sometimes between multiple manufacturing facilities) Energy inputs in construction are different, especially connections and erecting components Energy inputs in construction are different, especially connections and erecting components Heating the building (10 times as much energy than all other phases of life cycle combined) Heating the building (10 times as much energy than all other phases of life cycle combined) Maintenance requires energy Maintenance requires energy Demolition and disposal or recycling/reuse Demolition and disposal or recycling/reuse

11. Embodied Energy

12. Why is Wood so Good? Concrete and steel require significant energy inputs to convert raw materials to usable products Concrete and steel require significant energy inputs to convert raw materials to usable products “Wood is solar” “Wood is solar” Wood is an excellent thermal insulator Wood is an excellent thermal insulator But, understand that… But, understand that… The more complex the wood product, the more energy required The more complex the wood product, the more energy required As much as 87% of the energy consumed in lumber production is expended to remove water As much as 87% of the energy consumed in lumber production is expended to remove water

13. Wood as an Energy Source Wood industries possess a ready source of industrial fuel in the form of mill residues Wood industries possess a ready source of industrial fuel in the form of mill residues Mill residue is the source of approximately half of the energy consumed in lumber production (CWC, Tech. Bull. 2) Mill residue is the source of approximately half of the energy consumed in lumber production (CWC, Tech. Bull. 2) Wood is a relatively “clean” fuel being low in sulfur content Wood is a relatively “clean” fuel being low in sulfur content Insulation value Insulation value

14. Material Usage

15. Base on weight or volume of materials? Base on weight or volume of materials? Wood is a renewable resource Wood is a renewable resource Petroleum (the feed stock for most plastics and a major energy resource) is nonrenewable Petroleum (the feed stock for most plastics and a major energy resource) is nonrenewable Minerals (coal, metallurgical ores, etc.) are nonrenewable Minerals (coal, metallurgical ores, etc.) are nonrenewable More tons of wood are consumed globally than all plastics and metals combined (substitution is impractical) More tons of wood are consumed globally than all plastics and metals combined (substitution is impractical)

16. Material Usage We can, and probably should reduce consumption We can, and probably should reduce consumption The average size of an American single- family house built today is 40% greater than a house built in 1970 (1 st Earth Day) and twice the size of houses built post- World War II. The average size of an American single- family house built today is 40% greater than a house built in 1970 (1 st Earth Day) and twice the size of houses built post- World War II.

17. Many of the New Wood Products are Materials Usage-Driven Example: Oriented Strandboard (OSB) Example: Oriented Strandboard (OSB) Can use small, poor quality logs Can use small, poor quality logs Theoretically uses 100% of the log Theoretically uses 100% of the log

18. Carbon Emissions

19. Carbon Footprint Controversial (The controversy has intensified significantly since November - Google “climategate”) Controversial (The controversy has intensified significantly since November - Google “climategate”) CO 2 emissions largely come from burning fossil fuels to produce materials and heat/cool homes CO 2 emissions largely come from burning fossil fuels to produce materials and heat/cool homes

20. CO 2 Emissions

21. Photosynthesis and Carbon Wood is a carbon-based material Wood is a carbon-based material Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration Actively managed forests sequester more CO 2 over time (CORRIM) Actively managed forests sequester more CO 2 over time (CORRIM) Forest fires emit a lot of CO 2 (Angora fire in California in 2007 emitted as much greenhouse gas as 105,500 automobiles emit in a year ) Forest fires emit a lot of CO 2 (Angora fire in California in 2007 emitted as much greenhouse gas as 105,500 automobiles emit in a year ) Loss of forests is blamed for 20% of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere Loss of forests is blamed for 20% of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

22. Air Pollution

23. Ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxide, lead, particulates, etc. Ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxide, lead, particulates, etc. Energy production is once again a source of air pollutants Energy production is once again a source of air pollutants

24. Air Pollutant Emissions

25. Problem Areas in Wood Products Dust and particulates Dust and particulates Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Formaldehyde (used in some adhesives) may present a problem in plywood, particleboard, and other composite materials manufacture Formaldehyde (used in some adhesives) may present a problem in plywood, particleboard, and other composite materials manufacture Sulfur compounds used in the pulping process are a problem for the paper industry Sulfur compounds used in the pulping process are a problem for the paper industry Particulate emissions in burning wood may be controlled and sulfur and nitrogen compounds (problematic with fossil fuels) are negligible Particulate emissions in burning wood may be controlled and sulfur and nitrogen compounds (problematic with fossil fuels) are negligible

26. Water Pollution

27. Water Pollutant Emissions

28. Problem Areas in Wood Products AIA points to runoff from logging operations as a problem AIA points to runoff from logging operations as a problem “Best Management Practices” (BMP’s) are designed to minimize water quality problems associated with harvesting “Best Management Practices” (BMP’s) are designed to minimize water quality problems associated with harvesting Lignosulfates from pulp mills are problematic and heavily regulated Lignosulfates from pulp mills are problematic and heavily regulated The chemical treating industry is a primary source of water quality concerns in the wood products industry The chemical treating industry is a primary source of water quality concerns in the wood products industry

29. Chemical Preservatives Heavily regulated industry Heavily regulated industry Solid waste disposal problem Solid waste disposal problem Creosote Creosote Coal-tar derivative Coal-tar derivative Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Treating industry voluntarily ceased production for all but industrial uses at the beginning of 2004 Treating industry voluntarily ceased production for all but industrial uses at the beginning of 2004 What now? What now?

30. Solid Waste Generation

32. Problem Areas in Wood Products Historically, the wood industry wastes a high percentage of raw material Historically, the wood industry wastes a high percentage of raw material This is primarily because we make rectangular solids from cylindrical (more or less) raw materials This is primarily because we make rectangular solids from cylindrical (more or less) raw materials The “value-added” concept The “value-added” concept Wood is biodegradable and combustible Wood is biodegradable and combustible

33. Solid Waste Generation Remember the lath cut from slabs in “From Stump to Ship?” Remember the lath cut from slabs in “From Stump to Ship?” The recent widespread use of wood-based composite materials and “engineered wood products” instead of lumber has dramatically increased yields of usable product from raw material The recent widespread use of wood-based composite materials and “engineered wood products” instead of lumber has dramatically increased yields of usable product from raw material What do we do with sawdust? What do we do with sawdust? What do we do with bark? What do we do with bark?

34. What about Recycling? Except for paper, wood products do not recycle well Except for paper, wood products do not recycle well Recycling wood building products is labor intensive Recycling wood building products is labor intensive Embodied energy is low, which makes production of wood-based materials from raw material advantageous economically when compared to recycling Embodied energy is low, which makes production of wood-based materials from raw material advantageous economically when compared to recycling

35. What about recycling? Recycling of wood timbers from old buildings is a growth industry, especially with high- value species Recycling of wood timbers from old buildings is a growth industry, especially with high- value species The pallet industry is another area of growth for recycling The pallet industry is another area of growth for recycling

36. Paper Recycling 48% of all paper consumption was recovered for recycling in 2000 48% of all paper consumption was recovered for recycling in 2000 The industry goal is 50% The industry goal is 50% Recycled fiber accounted for 39% of all fiber consumed for pulp and paper in 2000 Recycled fiber accounted for 39% of all fiber consumed for pulp and paper in 2000 Bowyer, et al., Forest Products and Wood Science (p. 454)

37. Paper Recycling Recycled fiber is used in corrugated medium, newsprint, other printing grades, and structural wood fiber products Recycled fiber is used in corrugated medium, newsprint, other printing grades, and structural wood fiber products Impurities (adhesives, plastics, waxes, latex, asphalt, dirt, etc.) must be removed from recycled pulp Impurities (adhesives, plastics, waxes, latex, asphalt, dirt, etc.) must be removed from recycled pulp There is a limit to how many times pulp fibers may be recycled There is a limit to how many times pulp fibers may be recycled It is believed that 50% recycled content represents the practical maximum rate It is believed that 50% recycled content represents the practical maximum rate

38. Limitations of LCI/LCA How does one weight the various factors in LCI/LCA? How does one weight the various factors in LCI/LCA? Sensitive to small changes in building practices and sensitive to location. Sensitive to small changes in building practices and sensitive to location. How does one quantify something like wildlife habitat or recreational opportunities? How does one quantify something like wildlife habitat or recreational opportunities?

39. “Forest management practices are at the heart of the issue.” American Institute of Architects, Environmental Resource Guide (MAT 06110; p. 9) The Resource Issue

40. Impacts of Extraction Some people do not like cutting down trees. Some people do not like cutting down trees. Forest harvest is never pretty. Forest harvest is never pretty. Concerns over wildlife habitat Concerns over wildlife habitat It is an emotional argument It is an emotional argument Some harvesting jobs have been done very poorly and can have adverse impacts, but impacts can be minimized Some harvesting jobs have been done very poorly and can have adverse impacts, but impacts can be minimized

41. Impacts of Extraction However, timber harvest and use of wood is ecologically justifiable! However, timber harvest and use of wood is ecologically justifiable! Today’s lecture – wood possesses environmental advantages compared to possible substitutes Today’s lecture – wood possesses environmental advantages compared to possible substitutes There are sound ecological advantages to managing forests There are sound ecological advantages to managing forests Reduce fire hazard Reduce fire hazard Maintain diverse habitats Maintain diverse habitats Maintain “original” forest composition Maintain “original” forest composition

42. What about substituting other biological materials for wood? Bamboo, kenaf and hemp have been used or proposed as wood substitutes Bamboo, kenaf and hemp have been used or proposed as wood substitutes All are renewable, but… All are renewable, but… Are forests being converted to cropland to grow these commodities? Are forests being converted to cropland to grow these commodities? Agricultural “residues” (straw, cornstalks, etc.) Agricultural “residues” (straw, cornstalks, etc.) Being done but it is doubtful that this will fully meet the needs of 6.78 billion people Being done but it is doubtful that this will fully meet the needs of 6.78 billion people

43. 348 million acres of forest plantations worldwide 348 million acres of forest plantations worldwide 42 million acres of forest plantations in the U.S. 42 million acres of forest plantations in the U.S. Worldwatch Institute estimates that the world’s wood needs can be met by plantations occupying 10% of the earth’s forested land Worldwatch Institute estimates that the world’s wood needs can be met by plantations occupying 10% of the earth’s forested land Yet other environmental groups claim that plantations are not “real forests” and that plantations are “sterile” of biodiversity Yet other environmental groups claim that plantations are not “real forests” and that plantations are “sterile” of biodiversity Forest Plantations

44. “Tree plantations generally produce more wood per geographic area than natural forests. This is due largely to the fact that plantations tend to be established on highly productive sites, often combined with intensive silviculture, including fertilization, and use of genetically selected growing stock.” Jim L. Bowyer

45. Forest Certification Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) American Forest & Paper Association American Forest & Paper Association American Tree Farm System American Tree Farm System American Forest Foundation American Forest Foundation

46. ISO 14001 ISO 14001 International Organization for Standardization Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes Pan-European Forest Certification Pan-European Forest Certification

47. Why is wood the ideal green material?

49. Recommended Reading Bowyer, Jim L. 2003. Consumption and the Sustainability Equation. http://www.cof.orst.edu/starkerlectures/tra nscripts/2003/bowyer.pdf http://www.cof.orst.edu/starkerlectures/tra nscripts/2003/bowyer.pdf