According to the Healthy Building Network’s report on PVC in Buildings, “PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing major hazards in its manufacture, product life, and disposal.”

That’s not some sales guy talking here. The HBN is making this statement because of a chemical used in PVC and vinyl decking called Dioxin. The HBN goes on to say that “Dioxin (the most potent carcinogen known), ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride are unavoidably created in the production of PVC and can cause severe health problems including:

• Cancer
• Endocrine disruption
• Endometriosis
• Neurological damage
• Birth defects & impaired child development
• Reproductive and immune system damage”

Wow…

Why PVC decking isn’t illegal is beyond me. Once you read the report, I’m sure you’ll agree with me. The fact that there are companies out there that are actually selling vinyl decking leaves me scratching my head. After reading that report and all the science backing it up, why would anyone use that stuff?

As an alternative to building a vinyl deck, one recommendation that the HBN report made was to use FSC certified materials and sustainable wood.

Advantage sells FSC Certified Wood

At Advantage, we carry and sell FSC wood lines that include:

• FSC Ipe
• FSC Tigerwood
• FSC Garapa
• FSC Cumaru

Many more species can be obtained by contacting us. We also offer wholesale pricing for those who order a truckload or shipping container’s worth of any of our sustainable wood lines.

Read the Helthy Building Network report on PVC in Buildings.

While many people like to point the finger at lumber companies as the sole contributor to deforestation, there is a sobering fact that most people are unaware of:

Cattle ranching accounts for roughly 80% of the deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

The market for beef, leather, and other goods has led to the rapid and systemic depletion of the rainforest in ways that the lumber industry can’t even touch. Another thing to consider is that with organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council and many other environmental groups diligently watching the practices of lumber companies, there is a sustained effort to put back what is used. Basically, many lumber mills will replant tress that were cut down.

However, once acres of forest have been cut down for cattle ranching, that land is pretty much used for one thing and one thing only; cattle.

Yes, lumber companies need to be more responsible and diligent. However, the fact that the cattle industry and large corporations go unscathed for the most part in the public eye needs to change.

Advantage Trim & Lumber prides itself on the many ways we actually boost the forest’s production of trees. Our sustainable forestry practices include:

• Harvesting fallen and dead trees so that new trees can grow
• Havesting trees that no longer produce seeds
• Planting five new trees for every one that has been cut
• Selective logging

I recently came across a great article that discusses the impact that cattle ranching has had on the  Amazon. It’s a must read for anyone who wants to demonize the lumber industry as the sole perpetrator of deforestation.

At Advantage, we are the leader in promoting eco-friendly forestry practices and have a full inventory of certified FSC wood. We are members of the Forest Stewardship Council and the United States Green Building Council because we realize the importance of having a viable and sustainable forest. Below is an interactive video we created that shows the negative impact that cattle have had on the Amazon.

Visit our environmental policy page to learn more.

Deck Design of the Week

Green Home in Michigan

Yesterday, you saw the beginning stages of a green building project designed by Danny Forster, host of Build it Bigger & Extreme Engineering on the Discovery Channel. The finished Omena Lake front home is truly spectacular. Two features that are of particular interest are the extended deck / living room area and the eco-roof. In fact, Danny even shows you how eco-roofing is installed. I have to say, I learned a lot about green building and design from Danny. When he explains how they analyzed the wind patterns of the area to position the home in such a way that wind would keep the home cool throughout the day, I was blown away (pun very much intended)!

Here’s Danny giving you an extended tour of the newly completed Green home:

MyNorth.com Video: Danny Forster’s Cool, Green House Completed

I was also thankful that Danny gave such a clear and concise description of how eco-friendly wood is cultivated and harvested. This is important to note because according to Danny, he used certified FSC wood throughout the home. So, all of the ipe decking you see comes from sustainable forestry practices that have been monitored by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Why did he use FSC Ipe Decking? If you recall, Danny is trying to get as high of a LEED rating as possible. In fact, because of all of the brilliant designs ideas and the eco-friendly products that he used, Danny has told me that the home received LEED Gold status. That’s pretty significant because this home is only one of seven in all of Michigan to receive that level of LEED certification.

We hope that this home inspires you to use green building materials and techniques. Finally, for those that think that green building is expensive, think again. Danny specifically makes the point that building this green home, even with all of its features and eco-friendly wood and materials, cost the same as any home in the area.

Also, thanks to Danny Forster for taking the time to answer my emails and for the information he provided.