Connected and conscientious, Brenda Pringle is dedicated to green building practices. By staying apprised of ever-changing rules and regulations Brenda offers her clients extensive knowledge of the latest green building resources, including products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and products that contribute to the LEED certification program
WHAT IS THE FOREST STWEDARSHIP COUNCIL (FSC)?
The FSC promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests. They do so by providing standard setting, trademark assurance, accreditation services and market access for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry.
THE BENEFITS OF FSC
Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.
WHAT IS LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the leading accepted measure for green building. LEED buildings are evaluated in six key areas:
• Sustainable site development
• Water savings
• Energy efficiency
• Materials and resources selection
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovations in design
THE BENEFITS OF LEED
LEED certified buildings can qualify for a growing number of local government and state incentives including tax rebates and zoning allowances.
WOOD FLOORING FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT – INSIDE AND OUT
Wood floors are one of the wisest environmental choices you can make. There are many reasons for choosing a hardwood floor, aside from the fact they may outlast you!
Engineered wood flooring is green and helps conserve solid wood that is often more expensive. For every 1 sq ft of ¾”thick solid wood flooring, you can manufacture approximately 4 times that amount of engineered wood flooring making it the best choice to help conserve our forests.
Wood comes from environmentally friendly, natural and renewable resources.
Virtually all North American hardwoods come from sustained growth forests. The American Hardwood Information Center states that twice as much hardwood is grown every year than is harvested. For the hardwood species, 90% more wood is added annually in net growth than is removed through harvest.
Hardwood floors take far less energy to make than carpet or other floor coverings and are better insulators, more efficient than concrete and do not tire underfoot.
Wood floors contribute to a healthy living environment. A report from the Environmental Protection Agency states that 6 out of 10 homes contribute to asthma and allergies. Bacteria, allergens and dust do not embed in hardwood as in other floor coverings. Wood floors are the best defense against irritants as they are easy to keep clean with green or non-toxic products.
