Building Green is Building Momentum

Green building practices reduce negative impacts on human health and the environment through better design, construction, operation, and removal of materials. Ultimately, green building increases the efficiency in which materials are harvested and used.

When it comes to picking a floor for your home take advantage of the availability of recycled wood to replace any old flooring you may be tearing up. Try to utilize as much of the existing home as possible. You may not want to do away with old wood especially if you can reuse it in another location. After all it still has all the character and history in its features.

The green movement is prevalent as documented by many environmental initiatives being launched across the U.S. Here are two such examples: Last summer the City of Denver launched a five-year plan to promote sustainable development and eco-friendly practices that is already showing positive results and, in the private industry arena, Toyota Motors Corporation is going green with its design of hybrid vehicles, efforts to reduce green house gases, and its firm commitment to environmentally responsible construction projects.

According to the Metropolitan Builders Association, approximately 64 percent of home builders will be either heavily or moderately involved with green building projects. That follows a 20 percent increase in such builders over the past year. Such growth is moving green home building into the mainstream and brings home builders and homeowners to the brink of a new, environmentally and resource-conscious era.

But in the hazy world of figuring out what is truly a “Green” product, how does one know what to look for? Much like the USDA organic seal, products that carry the FSC logo have passed a rigorous monitoring process. The FSC label signals to consumers that the product was made from wood that has been procured, manufactured, and distributed in accordance with the FSC’s internationally accepted standards. Many architects and builders are using FSC-certified wood in their projects as a means of demonstrating their own commitment to the environment.

The process of recycling antique wood starts with the close relationships floor manufacturers have fostered with their suppliers to identify structures slated for destruction. Once the old timber structures are inspected and chosen as being suitable, the barn is carefully dismantled, transported to a lumber mill, and expertly cut into planks by professional sawyers.

The wood is then sent to facilities to be kiln-dried, sized, and carefully graded. Finally milling artists hand-select the wide planks to exact specifications in preparation for installation. This green process creates a look and feel that harkens back to the earliest pilgrim homes.