Wood Flooring is Green ST. LOUIS, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Many ecologically conscious consumers know that wood flooring is environmentally friendly, but there has not been a lot of scientific evidence to support this claim. Until now. The National Wood Flooring Association recently conducted a Life Cycle Analysis of solid wood flooring in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin. An analysis of engineered wood flooring is underway. The report analyzes the life cycle of wood flooring, from seedling, through growth, to harvest, to manufacture into lumber and finally, wood flooring. The report analyzes the impact wood flooring has on the environment for harmful air emissions, water consumption, energy consumption and product life expectancy. Air emissions tests analyzed four substances that contribute to atmospheric warming and human respiratory ailments. These included carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and other unspecified particulates. Wood flooring had no emissions for methane, nitrogen oxide and other particulates, and minimal emissions for carbon dioxide. Water consumption was substantially less than that used to produce linoleum or carpet, and generally is limited to use in on-site boilers for facility heating. Primary energy use reflects the collective energy inputs required in manufacturing. Again, wood was found to have the least amount of primary energy consumption. Wood flooring also stacks up favorably for product service life. Because hardwood floors can last hundreds of years, there are fewer replacement production impacts. Wood also is the only flooring option analyzed that does not end up in a landfill after its service life. Much of it is recycled or used as a combustible fuel. In addition to these findings, many groups recognize wood as a carbon neutral material since it has the added benefit of storing carbon during its service life. During the process of tree growth, trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen. This unique process makes wood a carbon neutral substance.
