Building A Greener Future

Our Environment Building A Greener Future (NAPSA)—“Green building”is a home-building concept that uses design, construction and mainte- nance to create more energy-effi- cient, environmentally friendly buildings. The popularity of this concept is growing. According to a recent study, green-built homes will account for between $19 and $38 billion in construction by the end of 2007. One of the “greenest,” most energy-efficient home-building materials is wood. It requires less energy to manufacture. As the demand for green buildings grows, experts at the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA) ask homeowners to consider these “green”facts: * Unlike steel and concrete, wood does not conduct heat and cold, making it the most energyefficient building material. Wood products require less energy to manufacture than cement, steel or other alternatives —five times less than cement and 24 times less than steel! Forest growth in the U.S. has continually exceeded harvests— the geographic area that encompasses the U.S. today has more forest cover than it did in 1920.