Quote:
Originally Posted by Welcome2Boise
I don't know a ton about LEED but just because something is real wood doesn't disqualify it from being "green". As long as it is imminently renewable and doesn't destroy the soil. like bamboo. Recycled materials are also obvious options, just not the only options.
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The LEED rating system is far, far from perfect, and can be and often is gamed by architects and developers, which should surprise no one. An example that I know from first hand experience, (and how LEED points in this situation are awarded might have been changed) points were awarded for using wood, even if the log was cut in Colorado, shipped to Japan to be sliced into veneer, shipped to China to be laid up as plywood, shipped to Italy to be dyed a certain color then lastly shipped back to the USA for use. All that transportation and the huge pollution factor that goes along with ocean shipping, and LEED points were granted because 'wood' is considered green. Concrete made with cement from the Lehigh Valley and sand from south Jersey is actually more 'green' then that wood I had to use.
regarding what's on Comcast II, which I haven't looked at, I would find it highly unlikely that real, natural, raw unprocessed wood would be used on the exterior unless it was going to be painted. Clear/transparent wood finishes just don't hold up, ask any boat owner who has to deal with wood, and the job of regularly refinished the Comcast II 'wood' would be a large undertaking.
My sight unseen guess is that its a manufactured wood, which is wood fibers pressed along with a epoxy type resin into a board shaped product. This can have a wood grain incorporated into it's outer surfaces. It generally works like wood, but doesn't need a finish. And the ends are hidden or treated or painted or capped because the wood fibers can draw moisture into the core just like 'real' wood; imagine a bunch of tiny straws are bound together with epoxy. One so called advantage of this type of wood is that it can be made from the waste wood from the usual milling/cutting operation. ('can' doesn't mean it is always made from waste wood) Another advantage is the 'boards' can be made in very long lengths, as one method of manufacturing this type of 'wood' is to extrude it through dies and press it in rollers. It is worked with normal woodworking tools and fasteners. I think it burns, but maybe it can be treated to lower its burn level. It's not cheap; the price is often higher then real wood. The additional upfront costs are suppose to be balanced out by its ease of use, long life, and minimal maintenance (the last two claims are still being contested)
As its use is uncommon in commercial settings I wouldn't be at all surprised to find two very similarly grained pieces close to each other; they probably shouldn't be, but unless the written job specs call out that detail, the on site installer just attaches the boards in whatever order there are handed up to them. I can't imagine them picking through individual pieces checking how they look next to each other. I laugh alittle envisioning a big job site where a couple of guys are arguing with each other whether board B or C looks better up against board A.
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