Wood
is one of the most common and versatile building materials. Under certain circumstances,
it can also be considered sustainable, but in general the over-harvesting of
wood from the forests around the world has exceeded the ability of forests to
regenerate themselves. The result of this has been an environmental catastrophe
in many regions, with considerable loss of species, topsoil, and natural beauty. Log, timber framed, and stick framed homes can be made with certified sustainably
harvested trees. This means that the forests where the trees are harvested are
carefully monitored to make sure that the health and character of the forest
is maintained. Only certain trees are culled periodically, leaving the remaining
trees to grow and contribute to a healthy ecosystem. Unfortunately, the American
Forest and Paper Industries has begun to mislead the public with their own SFI
(Sustainable Forestry Initiative) label, which would better be considered the
"Same-old Forest Industry" label. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
legitmately certifies forest products, so look for the FSC label.
Another
method of building with wood that can be done sustainably is with cordwood,
which uses short sections of tree limbs and trunks that would otherwise likely
be used just for firewood. This means that a large percentage of any given tree
can be utilized for building, and many species of trees that are not typically
milled for lumber can be used. Cordwood walls also provide an excellent balance
of insulation and thermal mass quite naturally, without the need for further
treatment either inside or out.
Disclaimer
Of Liability And Warranty
I specifically disclaim any warranty, either expressed or implied,
concerning the information on these pages. Neither I nor any of the
designer/architects associated with this site will have liability
for loss, damage, or injury, resulting from the use of any information
found on this, or any other page at this site. Kelly Hart, Hartworks,
Inc.
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