Sustainability

On this Earth Day, we at TerraMai are reminded that wood lies at the heart of the human experience. From the very origins of our species (whether we came down from the tree tops or took the Adam, Eve & Tree route) to the boundless wood objects, artifacts, structures and materials that adorn our lives, wood provides humankind with a unique and limitless source of beauty and utility.

Wood has played a central role in the great innovations and events of human history, including shelter, fire, the wheel, the plow, bridges, boats, windmills, the first airplanes, musical instruments and virtually infinite other examples.

Not to mention the immeasurable presence of wood in everyday life, the wood handle of a trusted tool worn smooth from years of faithful service, wood floors underfoot, cherished wood blocks and toys rubbed to a gentle shine from children’s hands, sturdy kitchen tables, beloved musical instruments, old wood structures both humble and grand and on and on. Wood is perhaps the most fundamental, versatile and all-around practical material in human existence.

Simply look around, wherever you may be, chances are wood surrounds you in a startling variety of ways. Most them likely beautiful to gaze upon while also serving useful purpose.

To enumerate wood’s many aesthetic and practical qualities is to compile an astounding list of attributes.

Wood is the only building material that appeals to all five senses (lovely to the eye, warm to the touch, soft to the ear, fragrant to the nose and flavorful to the tongue with smoked foods, wine and fermented drinks).

Wood is unique in its ability to make a space feel warm and welcoming – whether a home, workplace, store, restaurant or hotel. Science shows wood helps people feel calm and at ease in a space, boosting test scores in classrooms and recovery rates in hospital facilities that deploy wood finishes and furnishings.

Wood is the only renewable construction material. Wood products require much less embodied energy to produce than other materials, such as plastic, vinyl and metal products.

Wood is naturally carbon sequestering, with 50% of wood’s total weight coming from carbon. This carbon also remains sequestered for as long as the wood material remains in service and only releases into the atmosphere once the wood is discarded or burned, which highlights the additional benefits of recycled/reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed wood comes with unique history and character that adds instant soul and story to a space. Reclaimed wood also provides an infinite variety of unique looks, from classic weathered barn wood to beautifully clear all-heart, old-growth redwood with deep burgundy tones imbued by decades as wine tanks in Northern California.

The use of reclaimed wood also helps preserve standing trees and reduce manufacturing energy. It takes 1/13th the energy to produce wood cladding and flooring from reclaimed wood than new wood.

TerraMai continues to innovate and lead the industry in new ways to reclaim wood and manufacture it into beautiful products for architects and designers on projects of all types. TerraMai is unique in the variety of ways we reclaim wood, including “post-consumer” reclaimed wood salvaged from old structures, “pre-consumer” reclaimed wood rescued from manufacturing waste, “orchard-salvage” reclaimed wood from culled orchard trees, and “underwater” reclaimed hardwoods from reservoirs in the tropics.

But on this day, we are reminded it all points back to Mother Earth, the provider of life and all we behold before us. Long may she live in peace and good health. Knock on wood.

Matt Nichols, TerraMai VP of National Accounts – Western U.S.

Earth Day is upon us, and it is time once again to give our support and attention to environmental protection. With that said, TerraMai will be launching a new sustainable product line of tropical hardwoods that could one day lead to the end of rainforest destruction. Stay tuned!

For me, Earth Day is a not only a time to celebrate this beautiful planet we all call home, it is a time to reflect, to ask ourselves “am I having a positive impact on our planet in my day-to-day life?”. For many in the architect & design community, their entire career is devoted to solving some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems. To them, every day is Earth Day. I reached out to some of these leaders in sustainable design to see if they have anything special planned for April 22^nd. Maybe it will inspire you to get out there and make a difference in your community:

• Sandy Musante of L2P will be running the Clear Air Run (go Sandy!), dedicated to clean air and a celebration of Earth Day. L2P is dedicated to sustainability, and has completed almost half of all LEED-CI projects in Philadelphia.

• Miki Sullivan and SOM in San Francisco are dedicating an hour to turn off all lights in the office, and have an initiative to use less PVC in their projects. SOM recently won the prestigious 2019 Green Good Design Award for their Chengdu Tianfu International Airport City Master Plan

• Jean Hansen from HDR in San Francisco will be in DC, working with the AIA to drive a conversation on healthy and sustainable materials. Back at the office, Ruth Abbe (zero waste engineer & expert) will be doing a lunch and learn on recycling/compost best practices in the workplace. HDR is engaged in numerous sustainability partnerships & commitments, including the Architecture 2030 Challenge.

• Jill Hintze and Hager Design International have the day off in observance of Earth Day, which will save electricity and gas, and will be attending an Earth Day event in Vancouver BC. Jill sees a big area for improvement in the use of re-used products in interior design, saying finishes have come a long way but finding things like re-upholstered furniture is rare.

• Dan Heinfeld and LPA will be having an all-hands meeting to discuss their recent 2030 Challenge results. LPA is committed to the Architecture 2030, who’s goal is to achieve a dramatic reduction in energy and greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment. LPA has one of the largest LEED Gold & Platinum project portfolios in the country.

• Kirsten Weeks and Arup in San Francisco have an entire week devoted to Earth Week celebrations. Events include: Earth Day trivia, energy use awareness, zero-waste day, Eat Vegan day, and wrapped up with a Vegan bake-off. Arup is currently developing the Sustainability Master Plan for the Mexico City New International Airport, aiming to become the first LEED Platinum-certified airport

• Natalie Engels and Gensler – San Jose will be participating in a beach cleanup in Santa Cruz. Gensler is on the cutting-edge of sustainable design, employing over 1,200 LEED accredited professionals and completing 700+ USBGC certified projects.

• Kate Stuart and GBD Architects have participated in the EcoChallenge, which offers challenges for various activities related to environmental awareness & improvement, as well as a Spring Cleaning / recycling event with games & prizes. GBD’s work is largely confined to the Pacific Northwest, yet they have just completed their 50^th LEED certified project.

Thanks to the above list, and to all of our customers for the work that they do to make the world a better place, for ourselves and future generations.

Happy Earth Day!

Photo by Brianna Santellan on Unsplash

Based on the news, it may feel sometimes like scientists are the only ones focused on mitigating climate change, but architects and designers hold enormous power and opportunity through design to create a better world. The built environment has a significant impact on the earth, and if left unchecked, buildings become sources of pollution, excess energy consumption, and even deforestation.

Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom. There is much positive work being done to ensure built spaces are better for the earth. One way is to use sustainable building materials. While many materials can emit carbon and other dangerous toxins into the environment, choosing green building materials can lower greenhouse gases and with low to no toxins, they are the go-to choice for sustainably-minded designers.

Many governments have ambitious goals in place resulting from the Paris Climate Agreement. Within those goals are policies aimed at new construction. Architecture 2030, a non-profit organization, is partnering with many organization in support of these policies. Through Architecture 2030, there are tools and resources available to designers focused on carbon neutral built environments.

The Effect of Building Materials

The numbers are astoundingly high. Buildings have a huge impact on the environment. According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings account for over a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Obviously, normal building operations contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, however, there’s more than just the finished building that impacts the environment. The manufacture, transport and creation of building materials produces heavy amounts of greenhouse gases. One of the most dangerous greenhouse gases is carbon, which is emitted by the production of materials like cement, iron, and steel. This effect is compounded when these materials are turned into buildings. The USGBC found that buildings produce 39 percent of all carbon emissions, and emission levels are only expected to grow.

It’s clear if the 2030 goal to design embodied and operational carbon out of new and renovated buildings is to be met, that traditional building materials are no longer a conscientious option going forward. That’s why green building materials with low/no embodied carbon have been on the rise. These materials produce little to no carbon or other greenhouse gases and are overall environmentally beneficial.

We’re already seeing the benefits thanks to initiatives like LEED in operational efficiencies. A 2014 study revealed that LEED Certified buildings contributed significantly lower levels of greenhouse gases due to their conservative treatment of water consumption, waste management, and transportation. The attention is now turning to the reduction of embodied carbon in the built environment.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most popular sustainable building materials and the evidence behind them.

Reclaimed Wood

It’s no secret that we at TerraMai love reclaimed wood, and its eco-friendliness is one of the biggest reasons for our passion. When it comes to sustainable building materials, reclaimed wood is a leader. It’s sustainably and responsibly sourced, harming no living trees and using minimal energy consumption in the process.

From TerraMai: Reclaimed wood can be sustainably sourced from unused structures like this vintage building.

Reclaimed wood is also one of the best materials to use in order to reduce contributions to climate change. Wood naturally sequesters carbon. When wood paneling and flooring are chosen for homes and offices, large amounts of carbon can be stored reducing the emissions associated with the production of other materials. Several studies have confirmed that wood is a particularly beneficial material that produces much lower amounts of greenhouse gases than other traditional building materials. A study from the Journal of Forest Engineering analyzed the use of four building materials: wood, brick and tile, aluminum, and concrete. The study concluded that wood produced the least amount of carbon, with the other three materials emitting noticeably higher levels.

A later study in Forest Products Journal confirmed this fact but noted the importance of sustainability: “use of wood products can help to reduce contributions to GHGs in the atmosphere that increase the greenhouse effect, with the caveat that sustainable forestry continues to occur.” In other words, if new wood is used, there’s still the issue of cutting down living trees and producing the new wood.

Reclaimed wood avoids this problem entirely by repurposing existing wood, which in turn eliminates the processes that accompany the production of new wood. In addition, since reclaimed wood keeps forests intact, it allows those forests to act as natural carbon sinks, further reducing the amount of carbon in the environment. This is one of the biggest reasons why reclaimed wood is so highly sustainable, and it explains why the material is such a popular building material choice today.

From TerraMai: Reclaimed wood’s low carbon emissions make the material highly sought after by eco-friendly designers

Recycled Non-Wood Materials

Over the last several years, some serious progress has been made in the area of recycled material creation. Many traditional building materials, such as steel and tile, can be found in recycled form. The Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) is one group that’s pushing for adoption of recycled and reused materials. While these materials initially had a negative impact due to their creation and production, reusing them is a great way to keep them out of the landfill and reduce their future impact on climate change.

From Inhabitat: This vibrant, biophilic cafe in Turkey uses recycled metal plates for its exterior

Many architects are getting creative with using various types of recycled materials. Plastic buckets, bottles, bedsprings, and ice cream containers have all been used for innovative projects that make for some head turning building facades. The very act of reusing materials helps to contribute to carbon emission reduction by extending the lifespan of existing materials while also preventing the harmful production of new materials.

From ArchDaily: The facade of the Bima Microlibrary in Indonesia was constructed from recycled ice cream containers

Rammed Earth

You might not think of the earth itself as a building material, but using compacted earth is an age-old construction technique that’s seeing a resurgence today. Rammed earth is a method of compacting soil in layers to create a surprisingly sturdy and completely organic building material. Naturally, rammed earth is a low carbon option that’s accessible, affordable, and entirely sustainable. Even stabilized rammed earth, which uses small amounts of cement or lime to fortify the soil, is a better alternative to using a material like cement for an entire project.

From WDM Architects: Rammed earth is a great low-carbon substitute for materials like cement

Conclusion

Climate change is an ongoing issue that we need to keep focusing on, and through design, the built environment can minimize its effects and work to prevent further greenhouse gas contribution. Using sustainable building materials is one way to lower carbon emissions. As more architects and designers specify sustainable materials, and with the guidance of organizations like Architecture 2030, Carbon Leadership Forum and Embodied Carbon Network, the built environment will continue to make great progress ––and we and the earth will all benefit.

Reclaimed wood is a wonderful design option that’s lauded for its eco-friendly nature. It’s a popular green building material for a good number of reasons. It resolves many factors on a designer’s checklist but for some the question of availability is a concern- will there be enough for my project? Will it ever run out? In this article, I’ll take a look at how reclaimed wood is both created and sourced in order to answer those questions.

Where Reclaimed Wood Comes From

First, an understanding of what constitutes reclaimed wood will be helpful. Often, reclaimed wood is sourced from old structures. Vintage buildings such as factories, houses and barns are what usually comes to mind but fencing, gymnasium bleachers, bowling alley floors and bridges are also common sources of post-consumer reclaimed wood. These sources are post-consumer meaning they have been utilized for some time for a specified purpose by people, and are now at a stage where they are being removed or replaced. Other times, the wood is obtained from sources in which the wood would go to a landfill, a wood chipper or be burned. Reclaimed wood is a means of salvaging wood for a higher purpose, keeping valuable resources out of landfills and utilizing resources to offset the need to cut down new trees.

There are five major sources that TerraMai seeks for reclaiming wood: post-consumer, post-industrial, water reclamation, orchard salvage, and forest floor salvage. With each of these methods, we offset the need for generating products utilizing new resources. Instead, we find unused off-cuts and rejected wood and repurpose it into beautiful architecture.

Moreover, reclaimed wood can be found all over the world. Many planks of wood, like our Mission Oak and MC Walnut, are from the United States, but when it makes sense, we will source varieties from overseas as well. An excellent example is our Surfaced Long Plank Teak that comes from Southeast Asia. A wide variety of woods are able to be reclaimed from many locations but a number of factors must be considered when choosing woods from outside the U.S. For example, we have to weigh transportation impact or larger eco issues like finding an alternative tropical wood source to halt the demand for materials that negatively impact the rainforest. CO2 emissions for transporting goods via ocean freight at its worst is still less than transportation by truck at its best but the whole picture must be considered.

From TerraMai: We source our reclaimed teak from unused vintage structures in Southeast Asia like this one

Why Reclaimed Wood Isn’t Going Anywhere

Many people think that all reclaimed wood is decades or even centuries old, and this is largely why reclaimed wood might seem like a limited resource. While much reclaimed wood is old wood, some reclaimed wood is not. Many reclaimed wood sourcing methods are sustainable as in enduring and continual, which means reclaiming wood will remain as a valuable and lasting process. It has to do with the various sourcing methods.

As already mentioned, there is post-consumer reclaimed wood, which occurs when wood is reclaimed from sources where consumers have used the wood and that purpose of use is no longer viable. This reclaimed wood is often older since the buildings it’s sourced from are vintage and sometimes dilapidated. Some post-consumer wood results from processes that aren’t readily known. For example, shipping dunnage or wood that is used to hold cargo in place on rail and ocean voyages is also a post-consumer souce. As long as goods are transported, shipping dunnage will be needed. Often, the wood from post-consumer reclaim shows signs of aging, weathering, and use, giving the wood the trademark rustic or barn wood appearance and character like nail and bolt holes that’s commonly associated with reclaimed wood.

From TerraMai: Our Dirty Face wood is sourced from shipping dunnage, vintage barns, fencing, and other structures

This sourcing method will continue as long as there are structures slated for demolition and other sources like dunnage from which to reclaim the wood. Wood is still one of the most widely used building materials, so this method will continue to be practical. The reclaimed wood used today can be reclaimed and repurposed again. Longevity should be a factor in the material choice decision but at some point the wood chosen today can be reclaimed well into the future.

Another sourcing method that is on-going is post-industrial reclaimed wood. This is the result of scrap wood that is generated when wood products are created. For example, when furniture or items like wooden cutting boards are manufactured, there’s excess wood that ends up in a scrap pile. We reclaim it, diverting it from the landfill and giving it a new lease on life. This wood is salvaged new wood that is deemed as garbage. The resulting end-product can provide a very clean (for example, no nail holes) or eclectic aesthetic (for example, Acacia Metro).

Water reclamation is another relatively untapped source for reclaiming wood that is of very high value. With this method, wood is reclaimed from flooded reservoirs that were created decades ago for purposes of flood control, irrigation, drinking water and to generate hydroelectric power. There are standing trees that have been underwater for decades. The wood is still good and with processes now available to retrieve the wood, it is an ethical method to source tropical hardwoods that will not negatively impact the rainforest. There are a large number of these reservoirs in Central and South America, and Africa that remain untapped.

From TerraMai: Cumaru decking comes from the depths of Panama’s Lake Bayano

Orchard salvage isn’t often discussed, but it produces some hardy and beautiful woods. When old orchard trees are no longer producing they are replaced. The culled trees are either relegated to firewood or worse yet, landfilled. Considering that the oldest orchard in the U.S. dates all the way back to 1913, it’s safe to say that orchards are going to stick around for a while. The important thing is to build alliances with the orchard industry to divert this material to higher purpose use like flooring and paneling.

Finally, there’s forest floor salvage. This happens when trees are left behind as the result of timber cutting. Most companies leave behind smaller timber. Large volumes of wood left after a timber-cut delay regrowth, create fire hazards and can degrade water quality. Sometimes, this rejected wood is hauled away and turned into mulch. We believe it’s much better to reclaim this wood to allow it to meet its full potential. This is another method that will continue to be in use as long as the new wood is being cut down.

The Lasting Nature of Reclaimed Wood

Because wood can be reclaimed from so many sources, reclaimed wood will continue to be available as time goes on. These various sourcing methods provide variety of species and aesthetics to meet the many qualifying factors and demands of any design project. Quantity and quality are items not sacrificed when deciding whether or not to select reclaimed wood. We hope you see the upside to choosing reclaimed wood for your next project and will give it a look.

Ever wonder how the world’s best architects approach sustainable design? Their insight, perspective, and approach to tackling current and forthcoming challenges provide inspiration fuel for future building design projects.

Here are 6 sustainable design tips from leading A&D professionals. Through their work, they push us to have an expanded understanding of sustainable design.

Jean Nouvel: Think into the future

Jean Nouvel is unquestionably one of our time’s most impactful sustainable architects. The Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect behind the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Philharmonie de Paris is widely renowned for his groundbreaking work in sustainable design. Projects like the futuristic One Central Park and the National Museum of Qatar showcase Nouvel’s knack for blending eco-friendliness with beautiful design.

Nouvel has always been an innovator, so it’s not surprising that his advice is similarly forward-looking. In a 2017 interview, Nouvel encouraged sustainable architects to think about how their design might adapt to long-term changes: “More than ever, sustainability is at stake…We live in a world of constant and profound transformation, so architects have to radically rethink the way we build. New expressions need to reflect new paradigms and the rise of technology. We have to project our ideas far into the future, they need to stand the test of time.”

From Ateliers Jean Nouvel: One Central Park embodies Nouvel’s consideration for long-term sustainability

Thankfully, many new and exciting sustainable resources and materials are being developed. From the widespread popularity of the LEED building standard to an increased availability of sustainable building materials, architects have more tools at their disposal than ever before. Still, Nouvel’s words ring true; the projects we build today need to be able to adapt to the challenges of tomorrow. Everything from the locally surrounding ecosystems to the durability of materials needs to be considered. What will the natural environment look like in 5, 10, or even 50 years? How can our buildings withstand those changes? These are the questions that must be asked in order to create buildings that stay relevant.

William McDonough: Treat nature as a model

To many A&D professionals, William McDonough is synonymous with sustainable design. This sustainability trailblazer earned the first EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award and a host of others, and he designed the acclaimed Ford Rouge plant, which still serves as a beacon of sustainability with an enormous living roof.

From Greenroofs: The Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn, MI boasts an approximately 454,000 square foot living roof

In 1992, McDonough created the Hannover Principles, a set of guidelines for sustainability. His eighth principle says: “Understand the limitations of design. No human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not as an inconvenience to be evaded or controlled.”

McDonough’s statement goes hand in hand with Nouvel’s. Since sustainable design ultimately draws inspiration from nature, it’s only natural that it should also emulate nature. When problems are encountered in the built environment, look to nature for potential solutions. Projects that work seamlessly with nature can give back to the surrounding environment. This approach has led to innovations like biomimicry and energy positive buildings that bring the built environment closer to nature than ever before.

Glenn Murcutt: Choose your materials mindfully

Glenn Murcutt is often called Australia’s most famous architect. The only Australian winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, Murcutt is a vocal proponent of sustainability. A quick look at his projects reveals a studied balance between design and nature. (Check out the biophilic Australian Islamic Centre.) His guiding ethos: to “touch the earth lightly.”

From Architecture AU: The Murcutt-designed Australian Islamic Centre is a sustainable masterstroke

Material selection is a large part of that ethos. As Murcutt puts it, “It’s about: where did that material come from? What damage has been done to the land in the excavation of that material? How will it be returned to the Earth eventually, or can it be reused, can it be recycled, can it be put together in a way that can be pulled apart and changed and reused?” For Murcutt, touching the earth lightly means considering the environmental impact of every design choice, not the least of which is choosing the right building materials.

Sustainable designers have been following Murcutt’s lead and investing in green materials like reclaimed wood and recycled steel. It’s important to be able to determine a material’s impact, which is why from sourcing to processing, we continually scrutinize our processes so as to touch the earth as lightly as possible.

Rob Harrison: Water is the new energy

Rob Harrison of Harrison Architects describes what he does as “lyrical sustainable design.” As a Passive House consultant with 25 years of green design experience, Harrison combines his expertise with a passion for making beautiful spaces, and it shows in his portfolio.

In an interview with The Atlantic, he shared his thoughts on why energy is so important: “Now, it’s all about energy. Soon, finding ways to participate in the water cycle more intelligently will become even more important than demand-side conservation of energy. Water is the new energy.”

Hydropower is already a massive energy source, but it still has lots of room to grow. In the future, expect to see more architects using hydropower and other forms of clean energy.

Scott Ceasar: Keep occupant comfort in mind

Increasingly, sustainable designers are thinking about not only a project’s environmental impact but also its effects on occupants. While sustainable design aims to create more eco-friendly spaces, it must also optimize the built environment for occupants.

Scott Ceasar is one architect who deeply understands the symbiosis between sustainability and occupant enjoyment. Ceasar, a principal at Cosentini Associates, has helped to break sustainability through to the mainstream with projects like 4 Times Square.

Whereas some designers view sustainability and occupant comfort as separate issues, Ceasar says they go hand in hand. He considers how a space’s sustainable design will affect occupants: “We select systems that will go the farthest toward reducing energy usage and increasing occupant comfort.”

From Unique Workspaces: Ceasar’s sustainably designed 4 Times Square building shows how Ceasar designs for maximum occupant comfort

For Ceasar, occupant comfort is especially crucial in the workplace. “Basically, when the workspace is designed for occupant comfort, people are much more productive,” he said in an interview. “That hits the bottom line more than energy efficiency because companies spend 75 to 80 percent of their operating budgets on their employees.” That’s not to say that designers can’t have the best of both worlds; sustainably designed offices have been shown to improve productivity. The takeaway: sustainability and occupant comfort need to seamlessly mesh.

Amanda Sturgeon: Imitate nature as much as possible

Earlier I mentioned an area of design called biomimicry, and this approach of architecturally imitating nature is being practiced of the some of the world’s best designers. From insect-inspired pavilions to theaters that take inspiration from cave formations, the results of biomimicry are astounding.

International Living Future Institute CEO Amanda Sturgeon says that biomimicry is one of the keys to great sustainable design. To her, the “perfect building” is one that “is really acting as if nature would” and that “has to be a building that really deeply connects people to nature.” Architecturally, this means a building that operates in a closed loop system. In terms of design, biomimicry can be used to create that essential connection to nature.

From TerraMai: Google’s Quad Campus features an eye-catching multi-story reclaimed wood sculpture that exemplifies biomimicry

Imitating nature can be as simple as using wood to connect occupants with natural patterns or as complex as creating entire buildings that use nature-inspired structures. Utilizing biomimicry as a platform for creative inspiration will lead to more natural spaces that resonate with occupants and have a lasting impact.

Conclusion

Sustainable design continues to evolve with new technology and understanding. Architects and designers are thinking into the future and creating buildings based on a broader concept of sustainability; one that embraces more than improved energy performance. With building design having a profound impact on the environment, its occupants and the economy, A&Ds have a unique ability to impart real positive change.