Wood Exports to China on Record Pace

Shipments of softwood lumber and logs from the U.S. and Canada to China will reach a record high in 2011, according to Wood Resource Quarterly.

In 2010, the two countries exported $1.3 billion worth of softwood products. If the pace seen in the first seven months of 201I continues, the two countries' exports will more than double from last year, reaching a record $2.6 billion.

Despite the disappointing developments in the U.S. housing sector during the past year, lumber production in both the U.S. and Canada has been higher in 201I than in 2010. Many sawmills in the western U.S. and Canada have benefitted from the dramatic increase in demand from

Chinese lumber consumers. Some sawmills are exporting up to 307o to 40Vo of their production to the fast developing market in Asia.

The biggest increase in shipments the past year has been that of softwood lumber from British Columbia. Much of this lumber comes from the massive supply of timber that has been killed by the pine beetle over the past 15 years. The value of lumber shipments from Canada has increased from just $55 million in 2005 to an estimated $1.2 billion this year.

While Canada has drastically raised lumber shipments to China in recent years, the U.S. has instead expanded exportation of logs to Chinese lumber manufacturers. This year, U.S. West Coast log exporters are projected to

Green Building Products Grack Top 10

BuildingGreen has presented its 10th annual Top l0 Green Building Products Awards for 20 12, drawn from more entries than ever before.

"There are more 'green' building products than ever, but not all of them address a real need-or worse, some of them may create new problems down the road," says BuildingGreen's Alex Wilson. "In selecting this year's Top l0 products, we looked for companies that solved pressing needs in energy efficiency, reduced toxicity in building materials, enhanced retrofit applications, and offered unique solutions in other areas."

BuildingGreen's Top l0 selections, as in previous years, are drawn primarily from new additions to GreenSpec, the company's database of best-in-class green building products, containing more than 2,200 listings and product lines.

A big driver in the development of green products continues to be the LEED rating system, which awards points for the use of certain product types or for the energy or water savings that certain green products can achieve. "LEED continues to spur manufacturers toward market transformation," said Wilson.

Winners for 2012 are:

InterfaceFlOR carpet tiles with non-PFC carpet fibers

Lifeline PVC-free resilient flooring from Upofloor OY, imported by Altro Floors

Knight Wall CI-Girt Rainscreen

System from Knight Wall Systems

. EonCoat waterborne ceramic coating from EonCoat Aqua2use Graywater System from Water Wise Group Cypress Envirosystems analog-todigital wireless thermostat

. Ritter XL solar thermal system from Regasol

Mitsubishi Electric's ductless heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow systems with tenant submetering

. AllSun Trackers from AllEarth Renewables

. Philips EnduralEDs from Philips Lighting ship logs valued at over $900 million, a jump from $42 million dollars just four years ago. oucltloir?fttrrlrt rffi.nslnr.oq NfLMAt

The U.S. and Canada have also expanded their importance in the Chinese wood market. In 2005, only 47o of all softwood logs and lumber imported to China originated from North America. Last year, this share had gone up to 187o. Many North American log and lumber suppliers have the opportunity to expand their export sales in the coming years, and it is likely that their presence in the Chinese market will erow.

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Redwood Decks & Railings

New railings and decking profiles from The California Redwood Co. focus on beauty, ease of use, durability. and water resistance.

Both Estate (2x4 and 2x6) and Vista (2x6) redwood railings are gently crowned to shed water.

The Cascade deck board is also crowned on top to shed water, with beveled edges and drip lines on the bottom for greater durability.

All three are constructed from hand-selected and specialty-milled redwood.

r CALIFORNIAREDWOODCO.COM

(866\ 797 -1 41 4

Thermally Modified Decking

Phillips-Ice is now manufacturing thermally modified wood decking from sustainably grown North American hardwoods.

ThermalWood reportedly is 1007o natural, with low VOCs and improved dimensional stability.

It offers easy installation with Snap-To-It invisible fasteners.

r PHILIPS-ICE.COM

(650\ 381 -4415

KD Bamboo Decking

New bamboo decking from Tiger Deck is kilndried and vertically laminated for lasting durability.

The FSC-certified deck boards are profiled for Tiger Deck's hidden fastening system, and pre-finished with a clear sealer and a fungicide. Lengths of 12' ,16' , and 20' will span 16" OC joist spacing.

r TIGERDECK.COM

(503) 625-1747

Dumpster in a Bag

Waste Management's Bagster is a dumpster in a bag for d-i-yers and small contractors.

The durable woven bag can hold 3 cu. yds. of debris-up to 3,300 lbs.-making it ideal for home renovations and cleanup.

Collection fees range from $79 to $159, depending on the market, about 50 to 70Vo less than a dumpster rental.

r THEBAGSTER.COM

(888\ 345-2241

T&G Wood Decking

Kootenay Innovative Wood's tongue-and-groove decking is available in both 2x6 and 3x6 profiles. Both select and commercial grades are offered, in a Douglas fir/larch or SPF blend. Offered are lengths of 6' to l6', with 5.25" face and optional pre-drilling.

r KIWOOD,COM

(250) 3s9-8050