Houston Remodeling Guide 2009: Choose Environmentally Certified Materials

he remodeling of your home is just as important as new construction. Therefore, using environmental certified materials is just as important in your remodeling choices. What does it mean to be certified? Take your wood products for example. One of the industry ’s standards is the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Having the products certified to sustainable forestry standards indicates that the manufacturer of the products has lived up to the highest standards for obtaining the raw materials that go into making your wood products. Independent certification also provides consumers with the assurance that the remodeler / builder follows responsible purchasing practices and is one of many ways to demonstrate their commitment to being environmentally responsible, which, in turn, makes you, the consumer, equally as responsible in choosing the correct remodeler/builder.

Certification under industry standards requires a chain of custody, which refers to the ability to track wood from the time it leaves the forest through the processing and marketing channels to you, the final consumer. Whether they are certified forests owned by major timberland owners, small family forests, sawmills that supply residual chips or wood dealers, the wood is traceable all the way to the timberland growers and owners. The SFI standard itself is governed by an independent board with equal

representation from environmental organizations, the forest products industry and the broader forestry community.

The building industry has recognized the benefits of smart growth many years ago, not just wood products, but in all construction technology to fit the changing needs of home builders, home remodelers and home buyers in the broader society. Building better places to live, work and play has always been the work of responsible manufacturers and builders.

Our nation’s home builders, manufacturers and home builder associations are dedicated to working in unison to assure the best Green Building for the environment and consumer. The industry cares deeply about the communities and infrastructures we help create.

From wood to windows, Green is the new BLACK. Choose your builder / remodeler wisely. Know their approach, practices and choices of the building products they are supplying you for your biggest investment, your home. Most of all, know the strides
the industry is going through to preserve our inherited environment and strengthen the future of our generations to come.

KC Cox, CGA, CAPS, CGP

Weyerhaeuser Company