The increasing emphasis on sustainability of materials and
building design opens up new opportunities for wood use
in nonresidential construction. As a renewable resource
that sequesters carbon, wood has significant environmental
advantages over competing materials. Using wood products
serves to encourage ongoing forest management that
contributes to cleaner water and enhanced biodiversity.
Notwithstanding these and other benefits, the nonresidential
building sector historically has not been a big user of wood.
The barriers to using more wood products appear to be rooted
in unfamiliarity and outdated perceptions about performance
of fire-rated and engineered wood assemblies. These
can be overcome through education, technology transfer,
demonstrating successful projects, and through the creativity of architects and
design professionals who incorporate wood into their projects.
Ask for Wood is a web site designed to assist extension agents and others learn
about wood products and their role in healthy forests, a better environment, and
improved rural economies. The web site is designed both to educate the user and
to provide resources for the user to share with others. By using the materials on
this website we hope that extension agents can begin a dialogue with their client
bases that educates them about wood products and leads to increased wood use
especially in the non-residential construction market.
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