Go Green

Green is who we are, not the color of our balusters.

Taking an industry leading position over a decade ago, BW Creative Wood became the first railing manufacturer in North America to become environmentally certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Environmental stewardship has been in our culture for over a decade because we have always taken a long term approach. We use wood that is harvested only from sustainable, well-managed forest lands.

We are committed to providing premium quality products and ensuring long-term forest health. We are both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified. Please ask us about products available with these certifications.

Wood is the most environmentally logical choice because it is the most renewable, re-useable and recyclable resource we have today. Wood is nature's most infinite, sustainable, least energy consumptive raw material when effectively managed in a scientific and responsible manner. BW Creative Wood is very proud to be a key part of this process.

LEED and FSC Certification

There are a growing number of "green" building programs offering guidlines and third party certification for using green products, practices and design in buildings. LEED™ which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a commercial building design guideline and third-party certification tool from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The aim of LEED™ is to “improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established and innovative practices, standards and technologies” Under the LEED™ system, points can be awarded in five categories:

• sustainable sites,
• water efficiency,
• energy & atmosphere,
• materials & resources,
• indoor environmental quality,
• and innovation & design process.

This program encourages environmentally responsible forest management and through the use of certified wood products can provide one point of qualifying criteria for LEED certification for using a minimum of 50% wood-based materials and products (including stair, deck and porch railing), which are certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) Principles and Criteria, for wood building components. For specific details on LEED criteria please refer to the U.S. Green Building Council website www.usgbc.org

Wood and Green Building

Growing interest in building that are better for the environment, healthier for occupants and more cost-efficient to operate is helping drive the popularity of green building rating systems such as LEED and Green Globes. LEED verses Green Globes and Scoring Points with Wood.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), green built homes will account for up to 10% of new construction by the year 2010, and two thirds of all homes builders expect to be involved in green building to some degree by the end of this year. Home Builder Guidelines.

The environmental impacts of homes designed in wood, steel and concrete can be measured using a Life Cycle Assessment. Life cycle assessment is an essential part of green building because it offers an objective and consistent way to measure the environmental impacts of building materials and assemblies.

The issue of climate change is fueling pressure on governments to encourage and/or mandate green building standards for residential and commercial construction. “Promotion of wood products can act as a greener alternative to more fossil-fuel intensive materials. Substituting a cubic metre of wood for other construction materials (concrete, blocks or brick) results in the significant average of 0.75 to 1 tonne of CO2 savings.” –International Institute for Environment and Development, Using Wood Products to Mitigate Climate Change, 2004. Using Wood Products Fights Climate Change.

                                              
       FSC Supplier
                 SCS-COC-00080
© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.