Dr. Jim Bowyer

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Introduction
 

There are vast differences in the environmental impacts associated with producing various building materials.   Such impacts are virtually unknown to the consuming public. In addition, there are environmental, social, and economic concerns and issues associated with production of all basic raw materials. In the building materials arena, where only wood products manufacturers and distributors are currently asked to demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices, there is no justifiable reason for not now seeking the same assurances from manufacturers and distributors of all other products used in construction.  

There are life-cycle-analysis (LCA) based programs now in place that would allow rapid development of rigorous, self-sustaining, scientifically based transparent information regarding environmental performance for a wide range of products.   The use of LCA derived information in environmental programs such as LEED [1] has the potential to significantly increase the objectivity, clarity, and capacity of such programs.

With respect to building materials it is clearly time to expand current requirements for certification of wood products in green building programs to include all products used in framing, decking, sheathing, and cladding.   It is also time to give serious consideration to LCA-based product labeling of all construction materials.

[1] Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a program of the U.S Green Building Council

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Dr. Jim Bowyer is a professor within the University of Minnesota's Department of Bio-based Products (part time) and an Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science.  He is the current Chairman of the Tropical Forest Foundation, Chair of the Minnesota Bio-fiber Council, Scientific Advisor to the Temperate Forest Foundation and Past President of the Forest Products Society (93-94), and of the Society of Wood Science and Technology (87-88).