Cedar is known for many things: it’s beautiful, smells amazing, appeals to handmade quality craftsmanship, and has many long-lasting characteristics. Aside from these qualities, we can now add eco-friendly to the list. You may not think that buying a new set of western red cedar furniture is going green, but adjust your thinking. In a time when we have become conscious of our impact on the planet, we as a people have come to value environmentally friendly initiatives aimed at preserving and renewing those precious parts of the earth that have been critically damaged by man’s industry. While there have been efforts made to engage in recycling and using alternate energy sources, including wind and hydroelectric, using renewable resources is just another step in the right direction toward securing the future of our children and theirs alike. Using renewable resources, like wood, is not just a good idea; it may be our only choice if nonrenewable energy sources finally get depleted.

The Cedar Tree

Let’s first break down western red cedar furniture by looking at where the wood comes from. The western red cedar tree, Thuja plicata comes from the species Thuja. Western red cedar is considered an evergreen coniferous tree that’s actually a part of the cypress family. Cypress, however, grows in native soils across parts of the globe, while western red cedar is indigenous to the northern United States, down through northwest California and Montana, and up through parts of southern Canada. That also makes it cheaper to transport and buy, without having to pay any tariffs or import costs. Ironically, western red cedar is not what is called a “true cedar.” Along with other false species, like white cedar, western red cedar is still mostly considered a cedar and exhibits many of the same admirable qualities.

The tree of this particular species can grow upwards of 55-75 meters tall and from 3-7 feet wide in diameter.

Renewable Building Material

Wood in general is said to be the world’s’ singular renewable building material, compared to brick, stone, cement, etc. That’s why it’s so popular, affordable and prolific as western red cedar furniture. Wood products can not only be recycled after use into something else, wood (aka trees) can be easily and relatively quickly regenerated. Many lumber and paper companies make efforts to replant trees in deforested areas, so ideally in the future the number of trees cut down and replanted will even out. To ensure that companies and states are doing their part, the responsibility falls on local and national government to oversee and pass legislation, along with forestry boards. There is also a good deal of professional accountability in play on the part of companies.

Biodegradable Building Material

In addition to being renewable and regenerative, wood is also biodegradable. Think about it: wood breaks down in the span of one’s lifetime and so takes up less room in already overcrowded landfills. Other materials can take much longer. Landfills are one of the worst sources of standing land pollution, not to mention a growing problem. When you have things like disposable diapers, plastic bottles and batteries seeping into the soil and taking millennia to decompose, wood is a welcome change.

Cost-effective Building Material

Surprisingly, using wood is not only profitable for companies, it also greens their practices, two seemingly incongruous occurrences. It is the assumption that companies give off huge amounts of waste product because they are cutting corners, while more sustainable, eco-friendly practices cost more money. While this often happens, especially in the form of illegal dumping, sometimes a company can do good and make good. For instance, wood makes up 47% of the raw materials manufactured yearly in the United States, but it only uses a mere 4% of energy to do so. Compare that to steel, for one, which requires 21 times the amount of energy used, but also 15 times more sulfur dioxide is emitted as a result.

Tonya Kerniva is an experienced research and free lance writing professional. She writes actively about Western Red Cedar Furniture and Outdoor Furniture.

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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by Swansea Photographer

Article by Alfred Anderson

There is a growing concern about the environment today. Starting from activists to small children, most people are concerned about the environment. The concept of going green has gained a lot of prominence. However, this concept can only succeed if we a ready to make those small changes in our daily lives that finally result into a collective change in the bigger picture i.e. environment. Environment conservation is not just about discussing the causes and potential threats; it is about finding good eco-friendly alternatives to the various items that are being used by us. Plastic bags are one such item that is used extensively. As per estimates, The United States uses more than 100 billion new plastic bags a year.

If we can cut down upon this usage or even better if we can stop using plastic bags completely, the environment can be benefitted in an immense way.The huge consumption of plastic bags leads them to pile up in landfills after they are disposed of. Being low in weight, they fly away and settle in drains beaches and other areas. As a result the drains get clogged and the coastline gets polluted. Further more, estimates say that it takes 12 billion barrels of oil to produce the amount of plastic bags needed in US a year.

That’s quite a lot of oil and we can easily save it.Papers bags too are not a good alternative to plastic bags. More paper bags means cutting down more trees which in itself is very bad for the environment. Moreover, paper bags produce much more waste in the atmosphere as compared to plastic bags.Use reusable bags. These bags are made up of non woven polypropylene which is not only simple to make but also durable and strong in quality. They are available in a variety of styles and prints and can be customized to one’s preference.

HOME has a very clear message. We have a greater impact on the Earth than it can bear. We over-consume and are depleting the Earth’s resources. From the air, it’s easy to see the Earth’s wounds. So, HOME simply sets out our current situation, while saying that a solution exists. The film’s subtitle could be It’s Too Late To Be A Pessimist. We have reached a crossroads; important decisions must be taken to change our world. Everybody knows about what the film says, but nobody wants to believe it. So HOME adds its weight to the argument of environmental organizations that we need to revert to a more commonsensical approach and change our consumer way of life. On June 5th we all have a date with the planet! www.home-2009.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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