Company Uses Sustainable Wood in Construction
Recycled wood products are becoming an increasingly important segment of the construction industry as more people look for environmentally sound ways to build the home of their dreams.
Pioneer Millworks specializes in locating deconstruction sites—often containing old barns and industrial buildings—suitable for wood salvaging. Hardwoods and timber framing are gathered from these sites for recycling and reuse in new construction.
Wood is the only 100% renewable, recyclable, reusable and biodegradable resource we have, making the stewardship of wood products an invaluable step in conserving resources. Photo:Newenergyworks.com
The company has been in the wood recycling business for more than 15 years. In addition to the environmental benefits of reclaimed wood (such as preventing logging for new wood), it emphasizes the unique character that recycled wood can bring to a house because of the history and age of the wood.
Additionally, the company offers eco-friendly engineered wood flooring as a way to build or remodel a house. Because traditional engineered wood is a combination of solid hardwoods and plywood, it can contain harmful chemicals, like formaldehyde, in the glues that bind together the various pieces of wood.
Pioneer Millworks makes the plywood portion of the flooring with wood produced in the U.S. that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. It uses a low-VOC, formaldehyde-free adhesive to bind the pieces all together. The top layer of the engineered wood is sourced from the aforementioned reclaimed wood.
Sister company New Energy Works specializes in timber frame housing built from reclaimed wood. Amy Cornelius, LEED-AP, highlighted some sustainability benefits of timber frame:
- Wood is a renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic and natural material
- Wood is a carbon-neutral material
- Sourcing wood from properly managed forests has positive effects on the environment
- Wood has low-embodied energy (as it is grown through a natural process, it does not require extra energy to make wood – beyond sunlight)
- Timber frames are extremely durable and have long life spans, making energy expenditures for upkeep minimal
