Green Retrofitting Trend Creating Need for Reliable Materials Comparisons

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--A trend toward retrofitting existing buildings with green features is creating demand for reliable ways to accurately evaluate the carbon footprint left by building materials and production processes.

“Knowing that the LCA proved alternative building materials like WPC decking, brick, fiber‐cement, and vinyl create more environmental burden and consume more non‐renewable fossil fuel during their life cycles helps me feel confident in recommending Western Red Cedar as the most sustainable building tool for my clients and consumers everywhere”

Product longevity and toxicity are among the most important green considerations. Third-party life cycle analysis (LCA) of building products gives architects, builders and consumers a comprehensive environmental appraisal from which to make accurate side-by-side materials comparisons and identify authentic green products. Durable, sustainable, low-toxicity and no-toxicity building materials return the greatest value.

A recent LCA performed by FPInnovations-Forintek, Canada’s leading forestry research laboratory, took a cradle-to-grave look at environmental impacts of various building materials. It compared residential decking and siding applications such as WPC decking, brick, fiber-cement, vinyl and Western Red Cedar. Complex analysis considered such factors as resource, water and energy use, transportation and waste created.

Western Red Cedar substantially outperformed in every decking category and faired best overall as a siding choice. The assessment found that Western Red Cedar is the “most sustainable building material.”

A rapid rise in the number of communities implementing green building standards – and a large inventory of existing buildings – is behind the retrofit movement and resulting information demand. Cities with green building programs have increased 50 percent since 2007, according to a recent American Institute of Architects study.

“As green building regulations become the standard in building, consumers who previously favored more ’maintenance-free’ materials as their siding and decking products of choice will need to consider alternatives, such as Western Red Cedar, to help lessen their environmental footprint,” said John Wagner, a nationally recognized green and sustainability consultant.

Growing value in green building provides plenty of incentive. Federal stimulus programs offer substantial funding for renovating institutional buildings, especially federal buildings. Green experts predict the trend will follow into the private commercial category.

Green materials played an important part of the remodeled Columbia Sportswear store in downtown Portland, Ore. The retailer considered products that combined aesthetic and environmental appeal, and selected Western Red Cedar exterior siding and interior accents.

Alternative composite building materials create more environmental life cycle burden than wood, which allows for recycling and energy recovery opportunities that cut methane gas emissions in landfills, reducing carbon footprint, according to the LCA commissioned by the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. As an example, a Western Red Cedar deck could be built twice – or more – over its service life and still outperform composite alternatives.

On the residential side, green-it-yourself has become the new do-it-yourself. A recent joint National Association of Home Builders/McGraw-Hill Construction study found homeowners are using green products for 40% of their remodeling work. Another McGraw-Hill Construction study found 70% of buyers were “more or much more inclined” to buy a green home over a conventional home in a down market.

“Knowing that the LCA proved alternative building materials like WPC decking, brick, fiber‐cement, and vinyl create more environmental burden and consume more non‐renewable fossil fuel during their life cycles helps me feel confident in recommending Western Red Cedar as the most sustainable building tool for my clients and consumers everywhere,” Wagner said.

For more information about Western Red Cedar or the life cycle assessment, visit www.wrcla.org/LCA.htm.

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