Natural cedar weathers the synthetic challenge

that's not to use them at all. After all, so much effort goes into containing and regulating these toxins - most of which occur during product manufacture-and yet the most authentic, truly green building material has been time-tested for centuries: wood.

Products made from real wood, like western red cedar, are naturally durable, and in life cycle studies, actually stack up better than synthetics. That is because wood is all natural and loj%o renewable rather than manufactured from manmade petroleum-based products. Its authentic nature minimizes the environmental footprint from creation to disposal, due in large part to the minimal exposure to energy-intensive factories and harmful chemical processes.

More and more, that environmental component matters. Desire to lower the carbon footprint and the rising environmental consciousness has placed a premium on sustainable building products. Recent history suggests a continued push for the best design that uses the most sustainable materials to strike a balance in what some are calling "eco chic" projects.

(--lor-on. Texrune . DunnetLtrv. \-,Toxicity. Sustainability. All are important considerations when evaluating materials, of which the choices are many.

Manufacturers of alternative products make all kinds of comparisons and claims. Some say their products imitate the color and texture of natural materials, downplaying that they are not the real thing. Others make unproven claims about being longlasting and environmentally friendly. All of it is done in the spirit of trying to be like something else.

All the noise can be dizzying, but there is a simple solution to choosing trim, siding, and decking product alternatives that contain formaldehyde, mercury, dioxin and PVC-and

And, it all begins with the materials. Cedar and other wood products have the advantage of being beautiful, durable and sustainable.

"So, after all the effort that's been made to deal with toxins, and all the effort that's been made to make synthetics look like wood, why not just use the real thing?" asks John Wagner, a nationally recognized green and sustainability expert.

Alternative manmade composites are made from irreplaceable resources, consume high amounts of energy during production, release pollution in the process, and fill up landfills. That combination is not exactly a recipe for leaving the environment better off.

Conversely, producers of wood products work to create the lowest environmental impact when compared against other materials. Reforestation and renewal rates for cedar, as an example, exceed the rate at which trees are harvested.

Durability, always a criterion when evaluating products, is also very high with wood. As a natural material , wood lasts longer than alternative manmade building products, which have been unable to duplicate wood's unique character and performance.

Materials' character and durability were of high importance when it came time to select siding and decking for the Tree Adventure, a 450-ft. walkway among the tree canopy high above the Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania. Red cedar's natural hues, tight grain patterns, and soft texture brought aesthetic value, while its durability and long, straight lengths made it the ideal fit for a project that lives among forested terrain.

What's more, wood weathers well and does not fade, is naturally resistant to moisture, decay and insect damage, and can be easily restored to its original condition. Stains and coatings are also made to protect and enhance durability.

Western red cedar also contributed warmth, longevity and character as one of the more prominent sustainable materials of the Margarido House in Oakland, Ca. The home is the first in the country to receive LEED-H certification and a GreenPoint rating from the state of California.

For the professional or the do-ityourselfer, ease of installation is also a benefit. Wood is far easier to cut and install for decks, siding, outdoor pergolas, and gazebos than heavy, dense composites. Wood is clean and naturally eco-friendly to work with and does not create hazardous, toxic dusts when cut.

Then there is the added benefit. Wood looks good.

Natural materials, including real wood, contribute warmth, style and beauty that add value to a home. That is a point conceded even by composite producers, who understand the appeal of real wood and are manufacturing products to look like wood.

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