Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword. Using sustainable materials like wood helps protect our planet, and it can also protect you from high energy costs in your home. When planning your build, the sustainability benefits of incorporating wood are clear. Here are a few ways that using wood in your home can reduce your negative impact on the Earth, your community, and your wallet.
LOWER COST UPFRONT
Compared to the cost of steel framing or metal siding, wood is already easier on your wallet—steel averages between $9.50 and $11 per square foot for materials. While lumber costs vary, wood framing a house typically averages between $1 and $5 per square foot.
POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Beyond the positive impact on your wallet, building with wood has a positive impact on the environment as well. Production uses substantially fewer greenhouse gases than concrete and steel alternatives, and the carbon offset caused by tree growth cycles is a benefit to the environment as well.
SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY
As wood continues to be a top choice for builders, it allows foresters to manage forests sustainably. That means that Montana-grown wood, like what we offer at Sherwood Lumber, contributes to local industry and jobs, not to mention the health of our forests.
DECREASED ENERGY COST OVER TIME
Using wood is a great option to save energy when it comes to heating your home. Options like interlocking siding provide an airtight building shell, which translates into a warmer interior during cold winters without having to crank the thermostat. The cellular structure of wood contributes to slowing the movement of heat, with natural air pockets adding extra insulation. Using less energy to heat your home results in lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants, as well as lower utility bills. It’s a win-win for you and the environment.
PRODUCTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
At Sherwood Lumber, we’re your source for a wide range of wood products that can make your next building project more sustainable, including several that can increase your home’s energy efficiency. Whether you’re crafting a home, putting up a garden shed, or adding on a deck, you can feel good about the material you’ll find at Sherwood. We’re ready to offer you personalized recommendations on your project, so get in touch. Here are a few products we offer that can help reduce your energy usage.
WOOD PANELING
For extra style and warmth in your interiors, Sherwood Lumber offers tongue and groove paneling in a variety of wood types. When installed correctly, a layer of wood paneling can provide thermal and acoustic insulation inside your home, trapping in heat during the cold, Montana winter months. This way, you won’t need to crank the heat up quite as high so that you can conserve energy.
SIDING
Wood is considered one of the most energy-efficient siding options as a natural insulator, and we know this because of its R-value. An R-value is a measurement of how well a material insulates — the higher the R-value, the more efficient it is at insulating. For example, ½- inch wood siding has an R-value of about 0.81, compared to other popular options like aluminum, steel, or vinyl siding with an R-value of 0.61 or brick or stone with an R-value of 0.44.
If you have questions about our options and installation best practices, feel free to contact us for more information.
