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Consumer perceptions regarding redwood's price likely linger from days when there were fewer alternatives to choose from. For decades, redwood was hands-down the preference for distinctive architecture and outdoor projects because few building materials can stand up to the elements of weather and time so well.

Even with more choices on the market today, redwood's color, workability and natural resistance to decay remain unique. While engineered products aim to mimic redwood's durability with mixed results, consumers who do the research find that redwood, even heartwood grades, compares favorably to composites and other wood alternatives for price and low-maintenance performance. Plus, redwood has a proven track record and faded redwood can almost always be restored to its original appearance.

A LOOK beyond two commonly held notions about red-Cl,wood reveals now to be a great time to look at redwood again.

Many consumers believe redwood is hard to find, especially the premium heartwood grades. And without looking, most consumers would tell you that redwood is out of their price range.

But with housing starts in a slump, homeowners are increasingly looking to enhance their existing homes. The discerning ones are finding unexpected value and a green building opportunity in redwood.

Distributors and retailers across the West report a greater availability of redwood than in recent memory. Furthermore, the outlook for next year is that there will be more redwood on the market, not less.

That's a good sign for retailers and for consumers. It's good for redwood forests, too, because a main factor in redwood's sudden availability is sustainable forestry. Sustainable forestry aims to protect water and wildlife and conserve resources. At the same time it helps create a predictable wood supply.

There are more than 1.7 million acres of redwood forests in California today, nearly as many as there were 200 years ago. OId growth is well protected with about 257o of all redwood forestland preserved in public holdings, and privately managed forestlands are more productive than ever.

Roughly 80Vo of all lumber-producing redwood forestland has been independently certified as sustainably managed under the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative programs. Both programs require long-term harvest and growth planning, as does California law. In fact, a Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo study found state regulations to be every bit as demanding as the two leading sustainable forestry certification programs (details at www. c alfore sts. org/ fore st_certifi cation- 526-

But what may earn redwood a fresh look more than anything is the green building movement. Fueled by concerns over global warming, green building forces builders and consumers to look at the environmental impact of different materials. No other building material has a more positive impact on reducing greenhouse gases than redwood.

Green building often focuses on greenhouse gases and energy. Every building material has an environmental impact and no building material can be brought to market without consuming energy. The source of that energy can make a big difference.

Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil for energy releases greenhouse gases, and greenhouse gases contribute to global warming. Growing trees, however, absorbs greenhouse gases and can help fight global warming. Whereas making plastics and concrete burns a lot of fossil fuel, harvesting redwood harnesses a lot of solar oower.

All trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as they grow through photosynthesis. The faster trees grow, the more of the greenhouse gas carbon they absorb. Redwood is the fastest growing softwood species in North America, making managed redwood forests perhaps the most efficient scrubbers of greenhouse gases in the world.

Redwood lumber takes the carbon that was absorbed in the forest and keeps it in decks fences and other projects. In fact, the average redwood deck stores about a half-ton of carbon, keeping it harmlessly out of the atmosphere.

California Redwood Association offers a wealth of infbrmation on redwood fences, decks and forests through its website, www.calredwood.org. The association also makes building plans for tables, benches, gazebos, sheds and other projects available online.

There is also an online "redwood locator" to make redwood easier for consumers and dealers to find (www. c alredwood. o r ghef llocate llocte.php).