New LEED Pilot Credit Accepts SFI

The U.S. Green Building Council has launched LEED Pilot Credit 43, which awards a single point for nonstructural products and materialsincluding wood used in flooring and windows-certified under a range of systems.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative applauded the new credit as a "step in the right direction" because it recognizes all credible forest certification standards, including SFI, ATFS, PEFC, CSA-in addition to certification by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The credit rewards greater transparency and knowledge about product life cycles. "We want LEED buildings to have more products that we know more about, and fewer products that we don't know very much about," said Brendan Owens, vice president of LEED technical development. He collaborates with volunteer technical committees to evolve and refine the LEED Green Building Rating System.

To gain the point, participants must specify and install qualified products and materials for a weighted value of at least lOTo of the total value of all non-structural products and materials used in the project. Wood purchased for temporary uses-such as formwork, bracing, scaffolding, guardrails, etc.-would not be included.

Pilot credits are used to tests ideas before they become an official part of LEED, so many in the industry hope that this new credit represents a first step to recognizing the use of structural wood certified by groups other than FSC. The fact that the next LEED rewrite is underway also gives them hope that the new credit could be included for vote by USGBC members.

"Since so much attention has been focused on wood, other industries have been able to fly under the radar," said Owens. "They could take a lesson from the wood industry, which has done so much to document how wood is grown, harvested, and processed."

84 ldles Florida Yard-Again

84 Lumber has once again shut its yard in East Milton, Fl., which reopened last September after being closed for two years.

"Last time we closed. we never thought we would reopen again, but we did," said spokesperson Jeff Nobers. "This time, I would expect with 1007o certainty that the property will be put up for sale."

ProBuild Vet Buys Steel Products Manufacturer

Paul Hylbert, who resigned as ProBuild's chief excutive last summer, has partnered with Boreas Advisors LLC to purchase Barton Supply, a Colorado supplier of structural and reinforcing steel products and accessories.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Barton Supply as a committed, long-term investor," said Hylbert. "Scott Barton will continue to head our sales and marketing efforts as vice president of sales, and Don Barton will lead manufacturing and distribution as vice president of operations."

Hylbert will serve as chairman, while Steve Swinney. managing partner of Boreas Advisors, will serve as c.e.o. Founded in 1973, Barton Supply has locations in Aurora, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins, Co.

Hylbert and Boreas Advisors partnered earlier this year to invest in companies related to housing and building products.

Landscaping Products Dig in For Healthy Growth

U.S. demand for landscaping products is projected to increase J .6Vo annually through 2015, as sales register a sharp turnaround following a depressed 2010, according to a new Freedonia Group report.

Concrete products and other hardscapes will see the fastest growth, while decorative products-such as lighting and water features-remain the largest segment of the $4.1 billion U.S. landscaping products market.

Hurd Expands Vinyl Output

Hurd Windows & Doors' glass factory in Menill, Wi., will add production of vinyl windows this fall, under the Superseal Windows & Doors banner.

The move marks an effort by Medford, Wi.-based Hurd to expand Superseal, which it acquired earlier this year, into the Midwest.

Forestar Divests More Timberland

Forestar Group, Austin, Tx., agreed to sell 50000 acres of timberland in Georgia and Alabama to Plum Creek Timber Co., Seattle, Wa., for $75 million.

Of late. Forestar has inked deals to sell about 166000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas for a total of $270 million, allowing it to pay down debt by more than $120 million and repurchase over I million shares of stock.

The sale to Plum Creek is expected to close by the end of the third quarter.

Polystyrene Products Manufacturer

Adopts New Name

Styron, Berwyn, Pa., is changing its name to Trinseo later this year.

The company will maintain the arrow icon in its current logo, its company colors, and tagline "Powering Ideas." The Styron brand will continue to be used as a trade name for polystyrene products.

Styron's plastic building products include roofing, glazing, door panels, trim, and lighting.

Grane Composites fiberglass reinforced plastic panels have earned GneetculnD Children & Schools and GREeHculRo Indoor Air Quality certification.

Mvthic Paint manufacturer Southern Diversified Products has relocated to larger quarters in Hattiesburg, Ms.

Ace Paint, a division of Ace Hardware Corp,, oar Brook, ll., unveiled Clark + Kensington, its first all-in-one primer/paint, which is 100% acrylic and low-VOC.

ilevel by Weyerhaeuser's new Stellar 2011 v4.3 fabrication software converts framing plans into detailed instructions for automated saws and fabrication equipment, batches jobs, enables more efficient production runs, and makes better use of short drops.

Guardian Building Products, Greer, S.C., now offers a 10-years residential labor limited warranty on its GuarDeck Prestige line of composite decking products.

Clopay has introduced a walnut finish to its Gallery Collection Ultra-Grain lineup of residential garage doors.

Hardwood Forestrv Fund, Reston, Va., received the Northeastern Loggers' Association's zoto Outstanding Management of Resources Award.