Stage 1 - Resource Extraction
Harvesting and removing the resources and transportation
of the material. This includes the logging or mining required
to retrieve the materials, the equipment used, the building
of roads to transport the materials and reforestation
efforts.
Why Wood?
Harvesting wood has been shown to be much less intrusive
than the mining of raw materials for steel and concrete
such as iron ore, coal and limestone. And advancements
in technology have even improved the process.
Stage 2 - Manufacturing
Preparing the material for use and measuring the amount
of energy needed for raw materials to be manufactured
into building materials. This includes the cutting of
the trees into the different sizes (2x4, 4x6, etc.),
and manufacturing steel and concrete from ore and minerals.
Why Wood?
Compared to a wood 2x4, a steel stud requires 21 times
more energy to produce and releases more than 15 times
the sulfur dioxide. Producing concrete emits up to three
times more carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons
than manufacturing lumber.
Stage 3 - On-Site Construction
Building with the selected materials, including delivering
of the materials to the distribution centers, home centers,
or building sites and the actual construction of the
home.
Why Wood?
Wood requires very little on-site energy or special
machinery to construct.
Stage 4 - Occupancy/Maintenance
Living in the home continues to impact the environment,
including the energy needed to heat and cool your home
throughout the year.
Why Wood?
Wood is a 400 times better insulator than steel and
eight times better than concrete. Using wood framing
will insure that your house stays cooler in the summer
and warmer in the winter.
Stage 5 - Demolition
This stage assesses future impacts that are possible
long after a home is lived in, including bio-degradability
or reusability of materials during renovations or possible
razing.
Why Wood?
Wood is a completely natural building material that's
100% biodegradable. Some wood is even recycled for use
in engineered wood products.
Stage 6 - Recycling/Reuse/Disposal
Today's sustainable forestry practices ensure a perpetual
abundance of cedar from North America's forests.
Why Wood?
Cedar siding substitutes like concrete, vinyl and aluminum
are manufactured from materials extracted from the earth
- once removed, they can never be replaced. When substitute
sidings age beyond their useful life, they become part
of landfills. As a natural product, cedar is fully biodegradable.
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