Building product specifiers like architects and engineers are asked to consider the environment and sustainability when making product selections. …Research indicates that choosing wood products over more carbon-intensive materials like steel and concrete will reduce CO2 emissions. But the vocal minority demanding an end to all logging is getting louder and creating confusion. …The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association has launched an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the facts about the forest industry in North America, and the role wood products play in reducing CO2 emissions. …“It is an educational program of sorts,” noted Brad Kirkbride, WRCLA managing director, “but with the amount of misinformation that’s out there right now it’s pretty important that we provide the other side of the story. …when carbon sequestration is understood it puts the importance of using wood like Western Red Cedar in a different perspective.”
Canadian Mill Services Association (CMSA) is pleased to announce the launch of the first nationally accessible On-Line Grading Course for Dimension Lumber. For the safety of our students we have moved from In-person Classes to an On-Line version. This course is not just for the training of Lumber Graders but also to give all those who work in the Forest Industry a working knowledge of the language of Lumber Grading. Supervisors, Sales Personnel, Administrative Staff, Lumber Graders in training, all your employees will all benefit from this training. In addition to learning about Wood Structure, you will learn about the main Canadian Commercial Softwood Species, the Lumber Grades most commonly quoted, and most importantly, how to grade a piece of lumber. Comprised of 5 Modules (9 sub-modules) plus a Theory and Practical Exams, the items taught include Light Framing, Joists & Planks, Studs, Finger joined Studs and MSR lumber.
Leading property insurers are cautioning project developers and builders concerning the risks unique to mass timber construction that could affect insurability and premiums. A 
VANCOUVER, BC
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The City of Ottawa wants all new subdivisions and larger developments to meet a new, stronger set of municipal green-building standards. When city council approved tougher targets a few years ago for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and a road map to reach net-zero by 2050, city staff started working on standards aimed at one of two main sources of emissions locally: buildings. It’s easier to design a new building to be energy efficient from the get-go than to retrofit older buildings… City staff have crafted a “high performance development standard” for Ottawa, which they anticipate would take effect in a bylaw on June 1. They based it on the Toronto Green Standard … and say the provincial Planning Act gives municipalities the authority to roll out such rules. The new rules would not apply to projects that need only a building permit, or small residential infill projects or low- or mid-rise buildings.
Consumers and designers alike increasingly seek out products that meet verified standards for both sustainability and wellness. …From sustainably sourced wood to nontoxic fabrics, there’s a standard for just about everything. …The Forest Stewardship Council sets standards to ensure the forests used to source wood and lumber products are responsibly managed by providing two main types of certifications. …Among certifications for wood-based products, the Forest Stewardship Council is the most comprehensive. Unlike the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which only applies to forests in North America, the FSC covers sources from every country in the world. Plus, it looks beyond the immediate source of wood and paper products to examine the entire supply chain and labor practices surrounding the harvesting process to ensure best practices. …“It covers what we call the triple bottom line of sustainability,” says Susan Inglis of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
When most of us think about sustainability, we think about fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases. …carbon emissions from the buildings we work in are a major contributor to climate change. But thanks to new approaches to construction being developed here in Sacramento, commercial buildings are becoming more sustainable than ever before. One of the hidden sources of greenhouse gases is known as embodied carbon… By far the biggest contributors to carbon pollution in the construction process are the materials that builders use. According to Architecture 2030, just three of them – concrete, steel, and aluminum – are responsible for 23% of total global emissions. …Instead of concrete, savvy builders can use lumber or bamboo, which are sustainable materials that significantly reduce embodied carbon. …By focusing on embodied carbon and making a commitment to eliminating unnecessary greenhouse gases, Sacramento construction companies can help build a path to an eco-friendly future.
The Auburn University College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, in partnership with other colleges, will host the first international cross-laminated timber conference to be held in the southern United States next month. The three-day event titled “The Sustainable Future of CLT in the South: Grow. Design. Build.” will be held April 27-29 and will feature renowned experts in forestry, building sciences, engineering and architecture and design who will share the latest CLT research, trends and developments in the South. …Following a design and theme centered on the CLT supply chain, plenary and concurrent sessions will explore diverse topics, including current and future implications for forest management, the wood products sector, mass timber markets and economies. Presenters also will discuss the importance of certified, sustainable wood materials and products in the green building industry and the structural design, construction, performance and operation of CLT buildings.
World Wood Day is an annual event held each March 21, the vernal equinox, to highlight wood as an eco-friendly and renewable biomaterial and to raise awareness on the key role wood plays in a sustainable world through biodiversity and forest conservation. The day serves as a reminder of the importance and true value of wood and its responsible uses. The idea behind World Wood Day is a cultural approach to realize the concept that wood is good. This year, the WWD 2022 theme is Trees for Good, and the sub-themes are Challenges, Opportunities, Sustainability. “Trees for Good” is a continuation of the 2021 theme “CO2 & Wood” and a spin-off of “Wood is Good.” The sub-themes “Challenges, Opportunities, Sustainability” relate to life, social, heritage, industry and the environment.
Globally, there is a growing recognition of wood’s biophilic benefits—the increased connection to nature through the incorporation of natural materials, such as wood, in building projects. To tap into this trend, Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) India continues to work with stockists, builders, architects and designers to demonstrate the biophilic benefits of Canadian wood species within building projects across India. The FII India team worked with a local stockist (importer/distributor), Tambi Timbers, to guide the use of BC wood within an Oncology Centre in Jaipur. The goal for the design of this healthcare space was to create a relaxing and natural environment through the use of wood products. To achieve this, the project architect approached Tambi Timbers in search of a versatile wood species that could be used within a variety of applications. Tambi Timbers reached out to FII India for support and… recommended Douglas-fir as an ideal species for the project.
The United Nations’ decision to curb the world’s growing plastic pollution problem further positions Australia’s sustainable forest industries as a major cog in the global solution to provide sustainable fibre for renewable packaging, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association, Ross Hampton said. A resolution adopted at the UN Environment Assembly in Africa calls for an intergovernmental negotiating committee to work out the details of a treaty to end plastic pollution by 2024. “The world has been turning progressively towards wood fibre-based packaging solutions, but this breakthrough to end plastic waste will only accelerate the importance of Australia’s forest, pulp, and paper industries to feed the world’s sustainable packaging solutions,” Ross Hampton said. “To help …eliminate plastic waste, Australia needs to shore up its supply of timber to ensure we have the stock available to meet both local and international demand as it grows.” 
Although the term may seem recent, the concept of biophilia has been used for decades in architecture and design. The guiding principle is quite simple: connect people inside with nature to promote their well-being and quality of life. With all the ongoing design trends that have consolidated as a result, the demand has focused on organic materials that emulate outdoor environments. Among all the options, wood is one of the most popular materials. …Apart from the relevant environmental benefits of sustainably sourced wood, its popularity is driven by users that find the material to be beautiful, natural, and stress relieving… as explained by a