There have always been questions about how cutting down forests will affect the environment. Loss of trees and the expending of energy that produces carbon dioxide are legitimate concerns. But it is possible to use quality timber and still have minimal impact on the environment.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide gas and produce oxygen. The absorption of carbon dioxide is good for the environment.
Growing trees absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide. But once the tree is fully mature the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed is much lower. And once the tree dies and starts to decompose the carbon dioxide is re-released back into the atmosphere. A forest of trees, with growing and dying trees, will absorb and release about the same amount of carbon dioxide, making the total production basically zero.
The best way to use trees for reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is to constantly grow new trees. These trees can then be cut down and used as building material. The new trees will absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, and most of this carbon dioxide will remain stored in the timber which is then used for building. The carbon dioxide is only re-released if the wood rots or is burnt.
Hardwood is natural, and the use of hardwood timber for building material is a fairly good option for the environmentally conscious. Timber from trees requires only a moderate amount of energy in order to become suitable building material. And the growing of more replacement trees is very beneficial for the environment.
Bamboo is a grass rather than a wood, but many bamboo products can be used as building materials that replace traditional timber. Bamboo flooring is one modern example. It is much faster growing that timber, taking about 7 years to mature instead of several decades, so new building material is reasonably quick to produce.
Bamboo building materials look to be quite beneficial for the environment.
Good hardwood floors will last for decades, if not more than a century. This makes then a sound investment for any home. The timber is a renewable resource, and because the flooring lasts so long these is minimal impact on the environment.
Floor sanding can remove the top layer or wood from a timber floor, effectively making the floor as good as new. With regular wear it is not uncommon to re-sand floors ever 10 years. The restored floor can then be re-stained or redecorated to suit a new décor, or returned to its previous finish.
