Building Green

Green Building Statement

Wood is a Natural, Recyclable, and Renewable Resource

Wood is a natural, recyclable and renewable resource. It grows without using artificial energy, and although it must be harvested and transported, the overall use of non-renewable energy is less than concrete or steel. Most of all, wood is a durable building material. With sensible protection from the elements, wood buildings have lasted centuries.

When possible, our Douglas fir comes from blown-down or small lot cuttings and our eastern white pine from local producers. Although most of our buildings use new wood, recycled timbers from older, demolished structures are available on request.

It's reasons like these that in 1994 the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "...teach the student to see the land, understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands" chose Timberpeg® and their Independent Representative, Tom Ela, to design their nature center. To read more about their environmental efforts visit their website at: www.naturenet.com/alnc/

"Green" Materials Currently Available:

FSC Certified eastern white pine timbers
FSC Certified Douglas fir timbers
SFI Certified Cedar Exterior Trim
CSA Certified Cedar Trim
SFI Certified 1 x 8 T&G
SFI or SFS-Inspecta Certified 2 x 8 T&G
Salvaged/recycled timbers on request
Windows utilizing wood from Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified mills
Low-E Windows
Energy-efficient Structural Insulated Panels
When pre-stained timbers are requested, No-VOC or Lo-VOC products are available (unless requested, timbers are provided with no chemical treatments, other than a neutral soap bath to prevent mold)

Douglas fir timbers are available certified for chain-of-custody as coming from well-managed forests adhering to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards in accordance with the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

"The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests."

Reduce and Reuse

Cut-offs from our manufacturing process are recycled locally, and made available at no cost to people who use them for fuel and a variety of crafts and other projects. The sawdust from the process is provided free to local farmers. Metal strapping and other materials are gathered and recycled. Our tools are cleaned with citrus-based cleaners that won't harm the environment, and most of our shops' trucks and forklifts are powered with biodiesel fuel.

Built-In Energy Savings

All Timberpeg homes are energy efficient, with a continuous insulation system and high-quality millwork. With structural insulated panels, you can expect a substantial reduction in energy needs compared to those of a conventionally built home.

For additional information, read an editorial which Timberpeg^® has permission to duplicate and distribute. It appeared in Wood Design & Building, Summer 2004 issue. It provides results of a comparison of the life-cycle environmental impact of three, duplicate buildings constructed of steel, concrete and wood.

Timberpeg Partners with Environmentally Responsible Suppliers

It is not enough that Timberpeg practices environmental responsiblity within our company, it is also important that our suppliers share the same principles that we do. To learn more about how the different components of your Timberpeg® Package meet various environmental standards, visit the below links.

PROFILE: Patrick Moore, Ph.D.

Dr. Patrick Moore has been a leader in the international environmental field for over 30 years. He is a founding member of Greenpeace and served for nine years as President of Greenpeace Canada and seven years as a Director of Greenpeace International. As the leader of many campaigns Dr. Moore was a driving force shaping policy and direction while Greenpeace became the world's largest environmental activist organization.

In recent years, Dr. Moore has been focused on the promotion of sustainability and consensus building among competing concerns. He was a member of British Columbia government-appointed Round Table on the Environment and Economy from 1990 - 1994. In 1990, Dr. Moore founded and chaired the BC Carbon Project, a group that worked to develop a common understanding of climate change.

In 1991 Dr. Moore founded Greenspirit, a consultancy focusing on environmental policy and

communications in natural resources, biodiversity, energy and climate change.

In 2000, Dr. Moore published Green Spirit - Trees are the Answer, a photo-book that provides a

new insight into how forests work and how they can play a powerful role in solving many of our

current environmental problems. Visit Dr. Moore's website Greenspirit for additional information.

Timberpeg^® has permission to duplicate and distribute Dr. Moore's columns.

Some of Dr. Moore's columns in PDF format