Tu B'Shvat: Honor The TreesShalom and welcome to Tikkun Tips. A bi-weekly nugget of eco-Jewish thought from your friends at the Teva Learning Center.
As most of you know, this Shabbat is Tu B’Shvat, the New year of the trees. We tend to be in awe of trees, amazed by their breadth, scope and beauty. This is a holiday in which we express our gratitude for all that trees provide for us.
So how can we make sure that the ideals we celebrate on this holiday can become a reality in our day to day lives? According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Americans use approximately twenty-seven percent of the wood commercially harvested worldwide. The NRDC also states that among all forest uses in the United States (including paper), lumber and plywood consumption is the single largest, making up approximately thirty-five percent of the total demand. Lumber and plywood are used mostly in residential construction -- that is, to build, repair, and remodel homes. Yet roughly 1/6 of the lumber brought to residential construction sites is never used and ends up in a landfill, completely wasted.
Tikkun Tip # 7: Honor the trees by supporting efficient building design and sustainable logging practices.
According to The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), approximately 20 percent of the total wood used in building a new home could be saved by framing the house more efficiently. If you are looking to build, remodel, or add on to your home, take these statistics into consideration when working with your contractors and architects.
But what about the wood itself? Is there any way to know that it is being harvested and manufactured in a sustainable, ecologically sound manner? Well, I’m glad you asked, because, as a matter of fact, there is a way. There is an organization called SmartWood, which acts as a 3rd party certifier of wood and wood products. SmartWood is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council, an international certifying body, and is a program of the Rainforest Alliance.
Here’s how SmartWood works. In order to certify a logging operation, SmartWood will send in a team of a forester, an ecologist and a social scientist. They not only look to make sure the wood is harvested ecologically, but that it also is economically and socially viable for the local community. Wood products which are certified are clearly labeled, allowing consumers to seek out sustainable lumber and even trace the wood to its origin. Certified wood products are readily available at major lumber and wood supply stores.
Why is this important? According to the Rainforest Action Network, rainforests cover less than two percent of the Earth's surface, yet they are home to 40-50% of all life forms on our planet. Rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate: 214,000 acres (86,000 hectares) per day: an area larger than New York City. So keep this in mind whether your looking for a new chair for the office or a new wing for your house.
Chag Sameach!
Teva Learning Center
307 7th Ave Suite #900
New York, NY 10001
teva@tevacenter.org
www.tevacenter.org
|
More Info
For more information on certified wood products, check out the SmartWood website.
The Environmental Ethicist
In a few weeks we will be answering environmental conundrums from our readers. We have already received quite a few queries! If you have a question for the Environmental Ethicist, submit it to Tikkun Tips and we will select two or three for publication. We look forward to addressing your environmental concerns.
Like what you see here? Tikkun Tips is a project of the Teva Learning Center which relies on the support of individuals to bring our message to people throughout the country. Your help allows us to expand the scope of our programs and the numbers of people we reach. Please consider making a contribution to support our work. Support Teva
|
