USDA study finds wood is a top green building material

The American Forest Foundation welcomed a new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing that wood is a superior green building material, with environmental benefits that outweigh many other common building materials.
The study, “Science Supporting the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Using Wood and Wood Products in Green Building Construction,” analyzed a life-cycle assessment of green building materials. The USDA study found that growing, harvesting, transporting, manufacturing and using wood produces less air pollution – including greenhouse gasses – than concrete, steel and other material options.|
“Giving the green light to wood as the green building material should dramatically impact the market for sustainably grown wood in this country,” said AFF President Tom Martin. “Healthy forests need healthy markets, and the green building market is expected to grow to a $173 billion industry by 2015. Secretary Vilsack is a champion for working family forests and understands their importance to America’s rural economies.”

 

Wood casegoods manufacturer offers eco-friendly furniture line

Wood casegoods manufacturer Eagle Industries LLC unveiled a new collection of eco-friendly outdoor composite furniture called “Bear River.” The Bear River line includes a variety of tables, bars, stools, chairs, benches, plant stands, planter boxes and accessory items, available in a variety of earth-tone colors.
Eagle Industries partnered with Natures Composites to supply sustainable, wheat, straw-based composite material for the new collection. Natures Composites is manufactured by combining recycled high-density polyethylene plastic with wheat straw to ensure the product can be cut, drilled, or processed the same as similar wood products.
Eagle Industries’ officials say partnerships with domestic companies such as Natures Composites, as well as industry organizations like the Sustainable Furnishings Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Green Building Council, further the company’s goal of promoting “American Manufacturing” while reducing long lasting effects on the environment.
Eagle Industries plans to expand its commercial and residential line in the fall of 2011.

 

OFM launches ‘The Green Room’ Web page

OFM Inc. dedicated a new section of its Web site to highlighting its environmentally-friendly initiatives, called the “The Green Room.” 
The new “Green Room” page discusses the company’s recently completed rooftop solar farm, its certified Greenguard products and other projects OFM is undertaking to become greener.
“We wanted to designate a place on our website for our customers to learn more about our ongoing green practices and efforts to be a more environmentally responsible company,” said Abel Zalcberg, co-founder and chief executive of OFM. “We will continue to regularly update this section of the website with the latest on our green practices both internally and externally.”