Cook County Lumber - Green Building Solutions

FSC OVERVIEW

At Cook County Lumber, we realize that a healthy environment is essential for the well being of our industry, our society, and our families. We are committed to taking an environmentally responsible position on the products we distribute. This commitment means that we will:

Strive to partner with suppliers that are committed to sustained yield and responsible forestry practices.
Maintain an FSC Chain of Custody Certification so that we are able to provide FSC certified materials, as they are available for and applicable to the end user.
Promote green products that utilize recycled materials

We are committed to taking an environmentally responsible position on the products we distribute.

FSC CERTIFICATION

Cook County Lumber recognizes the importance to serve you inyour quest for an environmentally friendly building by incorporating FSC certified products within our product selection. Cook County Lumber is proud to announce that we have received a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certificate (SCS-COC-001635) effective July 2, 2008 www.fsc-info.org.

Cook County Lumber's FSC certification eliminates the need for our customers to go through secondary sources for FSC wood products. We have relationships with top mills for FSC lumber materials, thereby maintaining the integrity of the chain-of-custody from the manufacturer to the dealer.

Cook County Lumber is distributor of FSC certified and non-certified lumber that offers a wide range of products and services including: FSC boards, FSC dimensional lumber, FSC panels, selects, long lengths, studs, plywood, fiber cement siding, timbers, cedar, decking, engineered wood, take-offs, job-site delivery, and architectural consultation. Contact us to learn more about our FSC Certification.

WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?
It is a voluntary, market-based approach that provides consumers and the public-at-large with an independent assessment of a forest's management and operations from a rigorous, scientific framework. Cook County Lumber was issuedcertification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS); a 3rd party certifier who provides authentications commensurate with the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

WHAT IS FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes responsible management of the world's forest through the development of voluntary, internationally recognized forest management standards and the most widely recognized forest certification program globally.

WHAT IS THE MEASUREMENT CRITERIA FOR FSC CERTIFICATION?
A forest is scientifically evaluated based on management practices in three areas: sustainable harvest, ecosystem health, and community benefits.

GREEN BUILDING AND LEEDS

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What is Green Building

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WHAT IS GREEN BUILDING AND LEEDS?
The goal of green building is to build structures that are environmentally sustainable, and capable of sustaining the earth's natural resources. The lumber industry is at the forefront of creating solutions to these issues. If you have never heard about "green building" before, then this is your chance to become educated on how you as a dealer can have a direct impact on this trend.

The definition of "green building" is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle. (www.wikipedia.com)

What is green building:
To understand the LEED Rating System, it is important to become familiar with its comprising facets. To be considered for LEED New Construction and Major Renovations, a building must meet specific prerequisites and additional credit areas within six categories:

Sustainable Sites
Water Efficiency
Energy and Atmosphere
Materials and Resources
Indoor Environmental Quality
Innovation and Design

Across these six categories, up to 69 points are accumulated and credited to determine the building's LEED rating:

Certified: 26 – 32 points
Silver: 33 – 38 points
Gold: 39 – 51 points
Platinum: 52 – plus

And, there are multiple LEED Rating System platforms, which include:

New Construction: LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC) is designed to guide and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects.

Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance: LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EB:O&M) provides a benchmark for building owners and operators to measure operations, improvements and maintenance.

Commercial Interiors: LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) is a benchmark for the tenant improvement market that gives the power to make sustainable choices to tenants and designers.

Core & Shell: LEED for Core & Shell (LEED-CS) aids designers, builders, developers and new building owners in implementing sustainable design for new core and shell construction.

Schools: LEED for Schools recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools and addresses the specific needs of school spaces.

Retail: LEED for Retail recognizes the unique nature of retail design and construction projects and addresses the specific needs of retail spaces.

Healthcare: LEED for Healthcare promotes sustainable planning, design and construction for high-performance healthcare facilities.

Homes: LEED for Homes (LEED-H) promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

Neighborhood Development: LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national program for neighborhood design.

The Next Generation's Perspective will Increase Green Building:
- 89% choose brands aligned with social cause
- 74% listen to brands aligned with social cause
- 69% shop for brands aligned with social cause
- 66% recoommend brands aligned with social cause

Perceived Advantages of Building Green:
- 8-9% decrease in operating costs
- 7.5% increase in building values
- 6.6% improvement in ROI
- 3.5% increase in occupancy
- 3% rent increase

U.S. Building Impacts:
- 12% water use
- 39% CO2 emissions
- 65% waste output
- 71% electricity consumption

LEED Professional Accreditation
LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. According to the USGBC, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System. More than 43,000 people have earned the credential since the Professional Accreditation program was launched in 2001.

And, in 2008, administration of the Professional Accreditation program transitioned to the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The Green Building Certification Institute, established with the support of the USGBC, handles exam development and delivery to allow for objective, balanced management of the credentialing program.

The USGBC created The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™, better known as "LEEDS", which encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. The LEEDS rating system was created in 1992 and is nationally recognized as the benchmark in "green building". For more information on the LEEDS rating system contact www.usgbc.org.