at Forest Products Laboratory
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Requested Publication

Title: Wood Handbook, Chapter 01: Wood as a Sustainable Building Material

Source: General Technical Report FPL-GTR-190. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 1-1 - 1-6. Chapter 1.

Author(s): Falk, Robert H.

Publication Year: 2010  View PDF » Mail this web page's link »

Publication Series: General Technical Reports
Associated Research Project(s):   FPL-4714-MA

Abstract: Few building materials possess the environmental benefits of wood. It is not only our most widely used building material but also one with characteristics that make it suitable for a wide range of applications. As described in the many chapters of this handbook, efficient, durable, and useful wood products produced from trees can range from a minimally processed log at a log-home building site to a highly processed and highly engineered wood composite manufactured in a large production facility.
As with any resource, we want to ensure that our raw materials are produced and used in a sustainable fashion. One of the greatest attributes of wood is that it is a renewable resource. If sustainable forest management and harvesting practices are followed, our wood resource will be available indefinitely.

Keywords: Building materials, sustainable forestry, renewable natural resources, utilization, buildings, testing, environmental engineering, wooden-frame houses, dwellings, wooden building, architecture, climate, energy consumption, carbon sequestration, forest products industry, certification, wooden-frame buildings, green products, wood, wood technology, forest resources

Publication Review Process: Informally Refereed (Peer-Reviewed)

Date posted: 06/21/2010

This publication is also viewable on Treesearch:  view
RITS Product ID: 36158
Current FPL Scientist associated with this publication
Falk, Robert H.
Research General Engineer
  

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