Looking for an eco-friendly way to add beauty and warmth to your home or building? Look no further than natural, sustainable American Hardwoods. American Hardwoods bring the beauty of nature indoors with unmatched design flexibility. American Hardwoods are an environmentally-conscious choice.

American Hardwoods are:

Renewable: American Hardwoods are an abundant, natural material that is self-regenerating and naturally prolific. Nearly twice as much hardwood grows each year as is harvested. And, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the volume of hardwoods today is 90 percent larger than it was 50 years ago.

Locally Grown: American hardwoods are locally grown so less energy Is requires to transport them, which results in a reduced carbon footprint when compared to non-native woods. Plus, studies have shown that it takes less energy to manufacture products from wood than other material. Studies show that making products from steel, aluminum, glass, concrete, and brick can require up to 126 times more energy to manufacture than American Hardwoods.

Carbon Neutral: Healthy forests are net producers of oxygen through photosynthesis. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and separate the carbon and oxygen atoms. The oxygen is released back into the atmosphere, while the carbon is used to grow roots, trunk, branches, and leaves. The carbon is then stored in the wood for the life of the tree and the resulting products, such as wood flooring.

American Hardwoods also provide:

Efficient use of by-products: Virtually every part of a log is used as lumber for flooring. Advanced technology and manufacturing processes ensure efficient use of wood by-products.

Life Cycle Analysis: Solid hardwood floors can last for up to 125 years or longer creating a long life cycle. When considering life cycle costing, the useful life of American Hardwoods can span generation, making them more favorable and cost-effective over the lifecycle than competitive products.

Third-Party Endorsement: The U.S. Congress passed resolutions in 2009 and 2010 that officially recognized that the American Hardwood industry sustainable manages and environmentally preferable, natural resource, and that hardwoods should not be discriminated against in government procurement programs. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed and announced an endorsement strategy regarding the merits of domestic wood a s a preferred green building material.

For more information about American Hardwoods, including design tips and a species guide, visit www.hardwoodinfo.com.

Reprinted from: http://www.woodfloors.org/