sensible ronnenlqlist

By Dr. Patrick Moore

Using wood, on the other hand, creates demand in the marketplace and gives countries around the world an incentive to plant more trees and maintain forested areas.

Dear Dr. Moore:

Which is environmentally friendlier, wood or bamboo flooring?

I believe strongly in using renewable materials and energy where possible-and, from this point of view, wood and bamboo are both good for the environment. Although bamboo has been getting a lot of positive attention, wood is actually the better choice.

A member of the grass family, bamboo is popular largely because of its short growing cycle: it renews itself in less than 10 years without the need for planting. There's no getting around the fact, however, that it grows in monoculture plantations, which provide few of the environmental benefits of a growing forest. Why cultivate vast areas of bamboo when even the most basic pine plantation has more biodiversity, provides habitat for more species of wildlife, contributes to solid and water quality, and absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide?

Most of the bamboo used for flooring is grown in China and manufactured in Vietnam. There's some concern over lax or non-existent environmental regulations in these countries. as well as worker safety. In many cases, bamboo flooring is also made using formaldehyde-based glues, which release formaldehyde when exposed to heat and humidity.

Wood products are recyclable, biodegradable and energy efficientwith many companies using wood waste to generate energy. Yes, wood has a long growing cycle. That isn't a bad thing. We want forests at different stages of growth across the landscape. Some people place greater value on old forests because of their beauty. Beauty is subjective and, while old forests do indeed provide habitat for many species of wildlife, other species actually prefer newly regenerating stands.

As a sensible environmentalist, I believe that bamboo and wood flooring are both preferable to flooring made with non-renewable materials, but that wood is the environmentally friendlier choice.

- Dr. Moore has been a leader of the environmental movement for more than 30 years. A co-founder and former president of Greenpeace, he holds a PhD in ecology and a BSc in forest biology. Send questions to patrick@sensibleenvironmentalist.com.

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Millwork Contractors Like To Go Yard

Traditional lumberyards and other businesses that specialize exclusively in millwork have one foot in the door when selling to specialty contractors. Contractors surveyed by Building Products Digest primarily choose such suppliers when buying moulding and other millwork products.

"I can get in and out quickly and efficiently," noted Joseph M. Fernandez, JMF Fine Woodworks, Hillsborough, N.J. "It takes too much time to go through Home Depot and Lowe's. For the little money you think you're saving on price. you pay for in labor."

Service was roundly cited as the main reason for choosing their suppli- er, followed closely by price, according to the survey of more than 40 contractors. Quality, selection and availability of products and proximity were also mentioned by the many respondents who checked "All of the Above." Daniel J. Franco, Franco i Woodwork, Inc., Bronx, N.Y., explained: "Just like all other smart f contractors, I do not base my purchas- F es upon only one factor and am hard pressed to choose one above the oth- I ers. I choose my suppliers for all the reasons listed."

Franco's local yard, Dykes Lumber, specializes in moulding and other millwork, such as doors and windows. "They not only have and are willing to take a moment or two to talk about the products they sell, they also are generally knowledgeable about the products' functions. uses and possible alternative products," he said.

Fernandez added credit terms to his list of criteria for choosing a supplier.

Ronald Cox, Wood Products, Inc., Raleigh, N. C., appreciates that at his supplier of choice, "their field rep makes calls, and [they] try to stock the oroducts I want to use."

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Chain Adds Inland Empire DC

Pushing northward and inland to follow trends in construction activity. Dixieline Lumber, San Diego, Ca., has opened a wholesale distribution center in Colton, Ca.

General manager Joe Lawrence describes the new 15.75-acre facility as "a mirror image" of Dixieline's 17acre DC in National City, Ca., stocking "a typical framing lumber mix." He expected the facility to begin shipping by February l.

Scott Middaugh is location manager, with the area's sales personnel relocating to the site March I from their current offices in Grand Terrace. Ca.

Rosboro Logging Site Gloses

Rosboro Lumber Co. is closing its Springfield, Or., logging and trucking operations, leaving 4l people looking for work.

The company had put off closing its in-house logging operations as most timber companies have changed to contract loggers.

"There's a lot of liability having it as an internal operation," commented Jim Enright of Rosboro. "It was more a strategic business decision that's been going on for months. Currently l}Vo of our logging is done with our company crews. So it's been going on for many years."

Among the unemployed are rigging crew employees, shop maintenance workers, and log truck drivers.

Palco Judge Steps Down

Judge Christopher Wilson, who was presiding over Humboldt County's lawsuit against Pacific Lumber Co., Scotia, Ca., dismissed himself from the case.

Pe,lco is being sued by the county for allegedly submitting false data on landslides to the state in 1999 to gain access to timber on steep slopes that would have been off limits.

Assistant district attorney Tim Stoen felt that Wilson was biased toward Pelco and had no jurisdiction over substantial matters in the case.

Stoen wanted Wilson off the case because he believed Wilson appeared to suggest the case could harm him politically, and because Wilson had a relationship with a county supervisor's niece.

Judge Wilson stated, "There has been a residual of distrust in this case, and nothine should be allowed to taint it. The community should know that this is going to be a fair trial. I have no doubt that I could try this case fairly. But given what I have said, I have assessed the matter and I want the respect of all parties. Therefore, I am withdrawing from the trial."

TruServ Trims Suppliers

TruServ is reorganizing its merchandising and supply chain operations. The co-op is replacing 22 positions, cutting the number of merchants in its merchandising and supply chain structure, and will headquarter a global sourcing department and office in China.

Steve Mahurin, senior v.p. and chief merchandising officer, will lead the new merchandising team.

"The end result will be a smaller group of merchants with the experience to make decisions and implement them quickly," Mahurin said. "This change in our structure will help maximize TruServ's purchasing capabilities in both the U.S. and abroad, ensuring that we deliver the best products to our members at the best possible prices."