Working with
Wood
“Every time I drive past Queen Mary High School in
North Vancouver, my mind goes back to my first
woodworking class. They called it Manual Training at the
time and this vintage red brick building is where I first
tasted the thrill of working with wood. I remember the
unique aroma and feel of the various woods we worked
with, and how proud my pals and I were to arrive home
with the first crude examples of our handiwork. The smell
of cedar in particular brings back a flood of fond
memories. In the immortal words of John Denver ...
“it fills up my senses like a walk in the
forest.” If I do recall, my very first woodworking
project was a set of book ends, which sat proudly in the
front room of our home on Pemberton Avenue. In this page
we will introduce you to a number of sources where you
can get to know more about the properties and uses of
wood in construction, or as a hobby.” Jerry W. Bird,
Editor
"Wood Works” Media Campaign:
http://www.wood-works.org
Why
Wood? Wood is a natural,
abundant and renewable resource. As a construction
material wood is a good choice for the environment.
Concrete or steel requires tremendous amounts of energy
to produce. Fossil fuels such as gas, oil or coal are
likely to be consumed in the manufacturing process,
leading to greater emissions of greenhouse gasses. If you
consider the total energy needed for resource extraction,
manufacture, construction, service and post-use disposal
you will see that concrete takes nearly twice as much
energy to produce, while steel production demands more
than two and a half times as much energy as wood. Sheet
metal manufacture uses twenty five times more water and
releases three to six times more carbon dioxide than
wood. In fact, trees act as a 'carbon sink' absorbing the
excess carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.
Younger trees are most efficient at converting carbon
dioxide to oxygen; therefore regular tree harvesting is
beneficial to our global airshed.
Wood is by far the most
environmentally friendly construction material. Not only
is it a renewable resource, it is a recyclable one. This
is vital if we are to preserve our resources and minimize
our global environmental impact.
Buildings constructed of wood
benefit from wood's superior insulating properties. They
are more efficient than concrete or steel, which
translates into long-term energy savings and a reduced
load on our environment.
The Wood
Promotion Network (WPN)
i
A coalition of wood companies that have joined together
to educate builders, do it yourselfers and homeowners
throughout North America on the benefits of wood building
materials and the abundance of today's North American
forests. The WPN has more than 120 members and allied
industry associations, with more joining everyday.
Members include suppliers, retailers, wholesalers,
transport companies, specifiers and equipment
manufacturers.
Books about wood
http://woodstore.woodmall.com/woodbooks1.html
Wood. Plans and
Projects
http://woodstore.woodmall.com/woodplans.html
Available through WOOD Magazine
Be
Constructive Program
Be Constructive is an education program supported by the
Wood Promotion Network (WPN), a first-ever North American
coalition of wood product companies and allied industry
associations.
The Be Constructive program
educates building professionals, homeowners, and
do-it-yourselfers about the benefits of wood and its
superiority as a building material. The program
spotlights wood's role in home construction, home
improvement and remodeling and the hundreds of projects
that help make lives better each day.
Why "Be
Constructive"?
Be Constructive is about taking a
positive initiative. It's a mantra we live with everyday.
Work hard to create something with your own two hands.
Turn your house into a home. Be
Constructive is also the mantra of the wood and wood
products industry. In more than 90% of North American
homes, wood frames the rooms that bring us together,
shelter us, and keep us safe and warm.
Wood is also the centerpiece of
building and craftsmanship. It creates homes for millions
of families each year. It's used in little projects that
make our lives better and more beautiful each
day.
For more information see
www.BeConstructive.org
BC
Wood
BC Wood's training program
is one of the largest of its kind in North America. BC
Wood is an association dedicated to growing British
Columbia's value-added wood-products manufacturing
industry. Established in 1989 as a partnership between
industry and government and sponsored by Forest Renewal
BC, BC Wood provides marketing and training programs to
over 500 registered value-added manufacturers.
Products manufactured by BC Wood
members are among the finest in the world. Each product
represents a combination of premium fibre, skilled
craftsmanship, advanced technology and a dedication to
excellence. BC Wood member companies produce hundreds of
different products in the following sectors:
Millwork Products
Remanufactured
Products
Engineered Building
Components
Cabinets
Furniture and
Fixtures
Factory Built - Pre-Cut
Structures
To become a member of BC Wood, you
must meet minimum criteria. Associate Membership is also
available. Please contact our office at (604) 556-3373 or
info@bcwood.com
or contact your Regional Development Representative (RDR)
for more information.
