environmental hoofprint
When your building materials are “green,”
your farm’s environmental footprint is reduced
Green Building Materials for Your Horse Barn
by Clay Nelson A
ttributes that help determine if a building material is “green” include whether the product is: • natural • renewable • non-toxic • made of recycled materials • produced locally • reusable • certified sustainable
A material does not have to have all these attributes to be considered green, but, in general, the more of these attributes it does have the better.
With the help of Blackburn Architects, P.C., we highlight four green building materials to consider for your horse barn. John Blackburn and his team have been designing green horse barns for more than 25 years.
CERTIFIED WOOD Aided by a growing public concern over depletion of forest resources worldwide, a number of certification programs have been developed to recognize wood that has been sustainably managed and harvested. Te most recognizable of these certification pro- grams is operated by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC certification means the wood was harvested and transported
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in a manner that respects local laws and worker rights, is en- vironmentally responsible, and protects the health of forests worldwide.
“Our line of Greenbarns® specifies FSC-certified lumber in the framing and siding,” Blackburn says, “but we encourage all of our clients, whether they are building a Greenbarn or a custom barn, to use certified lumber.”
FSC-certified wood, however, isn’t the only green option. Some land owners harvest timber from their own property to be used in onsite construction or to be sold locally. Using local building materials helps reduce resource consumption needed to transport materials from one place to another. It’s also easier to know how local wood was harvested, ensuring it was done so in an environmentally friendly manner.
Another green option is to use wood renovated from old homes, barns, or other structures. Avoid wood that you suspect has been painted with lead-based paint or treated with other potentially toxic chemicals.
BAMBOO Bamboo is one of the earth’s fastest-growing plants and can be grown without the use of fertilizers or pesticides. While most trees typically need decades to grow before they can be harvested, bamboo requires only four to six years. Bamboo has also been reported to sequester 35% more carbon than trees, making it attractive in the battle to reduce atmospheric carbon
Holistic Horse™ • October/November 2010 • Vol.16, Issue 69
Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co. Inc.
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