CFA SUPPORTS FIRST-IN-THE-NATION GREEN BUILDING CODE
New Standards Promote California Wood and Impacts of all Building Materials

(Sacramento, CA) – The California Forestry Association (CFA), representing a diversified membership of biomass energy producers, environmental consultants, financial institutions, forest landowners, forest-products producers, wood products manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, registered professional foresters and others interested in responsible forest policies, supports the Building Standards Commission’s (Commission) action today in adopting the first set of statewide green building codes in the nation.   

CFA and its members applaud Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his administration in adopting a stringent state standard that does not rely on third-party groups based outside of California.  David Bischel, President of CFA stated, “These standards support the use of lumber produced from California grown trees that are harvested under the strictest standards in the nation.  Healthy, managed forests are the lungs of the state producing oxygen while scrubbing carbon out of the atmosphere. The ‘life cycle analysis’ in these new building guidelines demonstrate that wood has a much smaller ‘carbon footprint"’ by using less energy during the manufacturing process compared to other building products, and wood products store carbon for long periods of time.”  

CFA believes there are additional opportunities to support the use of California grown, renewable and sustainable products (such as wood and bioenergy) and looks forward to working with the Commission to incorporate and support these products in future green building standards.  “We appreciate the Commission’s recognition to promote sustainability and competition in the green building marketplace to ensure there is an adequate supply of building materials,” stated Bischel.

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David A. Bischel is a registered professional forester and president of the California Forestry Association.

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The California Forestry Association is a non-profit trade association representing California's forest products profession.
We are dedicated to assuring an adequate and sustainable supply of forest products at an affordable cost while enhancing forest health and safety.

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