Ni i Going Green With Redwood Decking instance, are four environmental benefits of redwood decking. 1. Redwood is grown green. This species thrives along a narrow strip of land that hugs the Pacific coast in Northern California. The vast majority of oldgrowth coastal redwoodsare forever protected within 450,000 acres of national, state and local forests and parks. The land designated for commercial growth is subjected to the world’s most stringent management and harvest practices. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) requires private forestland owners to have harvest plans and management operations regularly audited. The FSC also sets standards relating to licensing and training forest managers as well as broad standards for forest resource conservation. One hun- dred percent of California Redwood Association member forestlands are certified well managed by the FSC. 2. Redwood traps carbon and never lets go. Redwood trees continuously scrub carbon from the air, retaining carbon in their woodfiber. Even better: That carbon remains trapped even after a redwood tree is harvested and milled for lumber. The averagesize deck built of redwood is holding on to half a ton of carbon. A recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) documented that alternative plastic-based decking contributes to global warming, while redwood actually combats thisclimate change. 3. Redwood is naturally durable. Without any help from manufacturers, redwood’s natural Soe 1 (NAPSA)—Many homeowners may be pleased and surprised to learn that some of the products that are friendliest to the environment come from the environment—andare available for their own houses. Redwood is an excellent example, offering more environmental benefits than anything manmade—from how it’s grown and harvested to how it can be reused and repurposed. Here, for Your home can be decked outin style and all the while, you can help the environment. features reinforce the fact that this lumberis built to last. With a tight wood grain, a length of redwood lumber will hold its shape more consistently and is less prone to warping or cupping. Redwoodis also naturally resistant to termites, decay and evenfire. 4. Aredwood deck could outlast your mortgage. The same natural features that give redwood its durability also mean redwood decks will hold a protective finish longer and withstand multiple refinishings over the years. With periodic cleaning and refinishing, a redwood deck can last 30 years or longer. Even when redwood is no longer useful as decking, homeowners can still recycle the decking to use in other landscaping projects or even shred it down to use as mulch. Redwood is a smart choice for homeowners who wantto live a more sustainable lifestyle. It is also a remarkable value, generally less costly to your wallet and the environment than plastic-based alternatives. With careful forest management, natural features that no manufacturer has been able to replicate, and incredible beauty, strength and durability, redwood proves you can improve your home but you can’t improve on Mother Nature. Learn More The experts at the California Redwood Association, celebrating its 100th anniversary, can provide further facts and can be reached at www.realstrongredwood.com and (888) CAL-REDWOOD.
