Can High-Performance Building Strategies Decrease Lumber Demand?
Lumber prices have soared because of supply-chain issues and other COVID-19-related challenges. Solving the lumber crisis is a critical priority for NAHB, particularly because of housing affordability implications. Potential solutions that use high-performance building strategies can reduce the amount of lumber needed to build a home and reduce the demand on the timber industry.
Sustainable timber has several elements that make it more environmentally friendly:
- Harvesting: Trees must be cut down in a manner that protects the surrounding ecosystem by avoiding damage to local flora and fauna. Additional trees need to be planted to replace what was cut down.
- Sourcing: Sustainable timber could be recycled or reclaimed. For example, many demolished buildings or dilapidated bridges still have useable wood that can be saved for other projects.
- Byproducts: Sustainable timber considers what byproducts are made from the material and how are pollutants within the material are addressed.
- Chapter 6 Resource Efficiency - 2(1) "Structural systems are implemented that reduce and optimize material usage. Minimum structural member sizes necessary in accordance with advanced framing techniques." 3 points available for 601.2(1), 9 points max for 601.2.
- Chapter 6 Resource Efficiency - 2(2) "At least 2 responsible or certified wood-based products are used as major components of the building." 4 points available.
- Chapter 6 Resource Efficiency - 1 "Building materials with recycled content are used for two minor and/or two major components of the building." 1-6 points available.
- Chapter 6 Resource Efficiency - 1.2.1 "A product with improved environmental impact measures compared to another product(s) intended for the same use is selected." 2 points for product with 4 impact measures; 3 points for product with 5 impact measures. 10 points max.
- Chapter 6 Resource Efficiency - 1 "Regional materials are used for major and/or minor components of the building." 10 points max, 2 points awarded for each major component and 1 point awarded for each minor component.
- Chapter 9 Indoor Environmental Quality - 4(1) "At least 85% of structural plywood used for floor, wall, and/or roof sheathing is compliant with DOC PS 1 and/or DOC PS 2. OSB used for floor, wall, and/or roof sheathing is compliant with DOC PS 2." Mandatory.