To fully understand this bit of news, you need to know who’s involved. Here are the players:

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): It’s a non-profit organization committed to sustainable building design and construction. This is the group that developed LEED.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design: This is a specialized building code for environmentally-friendly construction that has become the gold standard in the U.S. In order for a building to be certified as meeting LEED standards, the project has to earn points. One of the ways you can earn points for a building is by using materials that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): This is another non-profit group. This one is devoted to encouraging the responsible management of forests around the world. Their independent certification ensures that wood marked “FSC-certified’ has been grown in a way that is environmentally friendly, and harvested in a way that’s good for the economy of the region where it was grown.

Now that you know who’s a part of this puzzle, here’s how the pieces fit together:

This newest version of LEED, known as LEEDv4, was approved on July 2, 2013. One section of this new standard states the following: “New wood products must be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or USGBC-approved equivalent.” That means that new construction can earn points if it’s using material certified by the FSC, or an equally environmentally-friendly material that’s been approved by the U.S. Green Building Council.

That sounds fair, right? There’s one problem. The U.S. Green Building Council currently has no standard in place to define what counts as an equivalent to FSC certification.

In June, the FSC urged the U.S. Green Building Council to define exactly what that “USGBC-approved equivalent” means. It’s important because the vague ruling makes things confusing for builders and designers who want to earn LEED certification but have no clarity on which materials meet the standard.

There are other certification systems out there: the Sustainable Forest Initiative and the American Tree Farm System, for example, both offer certification for lumber. The National Association of State Foresters thinks either of those certifications show promise for being a “USGBC-approved equivalent.”

And the FSC offers the following advice in a June statement to the U.S. Green Building Council:

• To be equivalent to FSC, a leadership standard must be rigorous, comprehensive, verifiable, consensus-based, and lead market transformation.
• Leadership standards go well beyond what is required by law and must require on-the-ground performance as opposed to just plans.
• And they are managed by open, member-based organizations with member-elected boards of directors.
• A true leadership standard has all key interests represented, and prevents any one interest from exerting undue influence.

Here at AltruWood, our goal is to be known as the nation’s leading supplier of sustainable wood products of all types, whether it’s reclaimed wood, lumber that’s sourced and milled within 500 miles of the user location, or FSC-certified materials. Since we began selling FSC-certified lumber in 2004, we’ve been committed to helping builders and designers achieve LEED certification.

You can be sure that we’ll continue watching this issue closely. The new standards will begin going into effect this fall, and stakeholders will be working together to determine what the new language means.

Whether this discussion marks the start of a more inclusive building product standard, or whether FSC-certified lumber remains the surest way to earn LEED points, AltruWood will remain your reliable supplier of LEED-standard building materials.

Responsible forestry ensures that the minimum number of trees is harvested for human use, and does so with minimal environmental impact. These practices have a direct effect on the lives of the wildlife that populates regions dependent upon trees. Trees serve as the cornerstone for many animals’ survival by providing shelter, improving air quality, and providing food. By choosing responsibly-harvested forestry products, we support the preservation of other creatures’ natural habitats.

Trees themselves are frequently inhabited by myriad species, ranging from the smallest butterfly to larger creatures such as apes, wild cats, and birds. Frequently, irresponsible logging practices devastate enormous tree-rich areas of a biosphere, causing radical changes for the native animals that use those trees for shelter. Not only are animals forced to move and seek out new shelter, but they often do so at the expense of other creatures by crowding out new areas, encroaching on another species’ food supply, or even dying out altogether.

In addition to serving as shelter, trees themselves provide food for animals, in the form of fruits, nuts, sap, leaves, and edible fibers. Trees also provide many elements that improve soil quality, promoting the growth and nourishment of both flora and fauna. Stripping entire forests at a time, as conventional logging frequently does, places enormous pressure on animals by eliminating a major source of nutrition. On top of this, the migration of species to new environments disrupts the normal balance of predators and prey, placing indirect pressures on the food supply.

In an era of increasing concern regarding climate change, it is important to consider the implications of logging on global weather patterns. Trees provide many important minerals and elements for us all, including carbon, nitrogen, and the fresh oxygen we breathe every day. Trees actually work to reverse the effects of global warming by taking in harmful carbon dioxide and releasing fresh oxygen, in a cycle that normally establishes balance within the atmosphere’s composition. Irresponsible forestry leaves fewer trees to absorb our enormous carbon footprint, leaving increasing amounts of harmful greenhouse gases lingering in the air. In the natural cycles that support our environment, trees stand at the centerpiece.

Support responsible practices by investing in sustainable forestry products. Contact AltruWood for the highest quality FSC-certified and recycled wood products.

Illegal and unsustainable logging practices are widespread, exporting an estimated $6 billion worth wood products to major consumer nations each year. In regions where this illegal activity flourishes, such as Southeast Asia, large corporations are given the power to harvest illegally and excessively, often at the expense of rare natural environments and small local communities. In order to procure exotic, high-value wood, land is stripped and frequently turned over to other powerful entities for further agricultural or economic development. These practices devastate people, wildlife, and nature:

• Communities and villages are destroyed
• People in these regions depend upon trees for basic necessities such as food, water, and medicinal products
• Local wildlife is forced into new and unnatural habitats, pushing many species closer to extinction
• Deforestation places considerably more pressure on the environment as our natural oxygen reservoirs and carbon dioxide recycling are lost.

Learning about the widespread damage of illegal forestry can be daunting. Thankfully, many organizations are taking steps to minimize, and in some cases eliminate, the demands logging places on both environments and communities. Through its certification protocol, the Forest Stewardship Council ensures that all FSC-certified wood products have been sourced responsibly. FSC wood products are analyzed by an independent third party according to stringent environmental, social, and economic standards.

Choose responsibly and take steps toward improving social, economic, and global health by purchasing reclaimed, recycled, and FSC wood products. Contact AltruWood for the highest quality FSC wood products.

Here’s a recap of what the WSJ had to say about Ipe’s durability and performance. We added a few tidbits toward the end, too.

Ipe Origin + Qualities

Ipe (EE-pay) or Brazilian Walnut is harvested in Central America and South America. Ipe’s Janka hardness is 3684, more than three times the Janka hardness of Western Red Cedar. Ipe wood does not float in water unlike most woods. Ipe wood is also fire-resistant – Ipe does not burn nor smoke.

Ipe Applications

Ipe wood is commonly used in exterior applications such as Ipe siding and Ipe decking. One of the most famous Ipe decks is New York’s Coney Island boardwalk (hit hard but still recognizable after Hurricane Sandy). Ipe flooring is a popular choice for interior applications, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic.

Advantages of Ipe

Ipe’s lifespan is easily 25 years with minimal maintenance. Go ahead and add another 25 years when regular maintenance is performed on this hardwood.

Ipe also produces an oil that bugs detest, making it bug-resistant. Ipe is rot-resistant and mildew-resistant, too.

Disadvantages of Ipe

Ipe is difficult to drill, saw, and nail with standard steel tools. Expect dull blades and blunt edges on standard tools – a woodworker’s nightmare. Painters won’t have much luck either because of Ipe’s resistant-to-nearly-everything properties.

Another disadvantage of Ipe results from commercial demand. Illegal Ipe harvesting and unauthorized Ipe distribution leads to unsustainable forestry and shoddy business practices for local communities.

Rely on FSC certified wood distributors who support sustainable forestry. If you’re unsure about your wood vendor’s forestry practices, be sure to ask to support responsible forestry efforts.

AltruWood-ism: Do you live in an Ipe-friendly climate? Check out the 5 Climate Controls Tips for Ipe Decking to find out.

Natural Home and Garden: All Decked Out