Here in Big Sky Country, log and timber frame construction is enormously popular with high end construction, especially for vacation home buyers. Log and timber frame homes, with their rustic good looks, appeals to a romantic notion of what life in Montana should be like. However heavy timber construction - and especially log houses - are rarely environmentally preferable compared to conventional building systems. Conventional framing is far more wood-efficient, and in most cases, results in a more energy-efficient building envelope.

In the days leading up to and following the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, world attention was focused on the challenges faced by cultures around the globe as demands on their natural resources increased. Poverty, disease, land use change, climate change, and pollution all continue to threaten our resources and the stability of cultures worldwide. The challenges at Rio remain largely unmet. However, the conversations that occurred there contributed to one solution - the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Driven in part by the failure of an intergovernmental process to agree on a global forest compact, and the compelling question - what is sustainable forestry? - loggers, foresters, environmentalists, and sociologists came together in the first General Assembly to form the FSC in 1993.

The Forest Stewardship Council was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. This impressive goal has in many ways been achieved, yet there is more work to be done. FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world?s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes. Like the forestry profession itself, the FSC system includes stakeholders with a diverse array of perspectives on what represents a well-managed and sustainable forest. While the discussion continues, the FSC standards for forest management have now been applied in over 57 countries around the world.

As demand on forest resources increases, nonforest sources for wood have grown in importance. Reclaimed wood is usually salvaged from buildings slated for demolition, abandoned railroad trestles, and "sinker logs" that sank decades ago during river-based log drives. Reclaimed wood is available in species, coloration, and wood quality no longer available in newly harvested timber. As with other resources, the supply of reclaimed wood is limited. Efficient and appropriate use of reclaimed wood is important for its long-term availability.

Sheathing comprises a significant portion of the materials used with many building types. Careful consideration of product selection and use can reduce the environmental impacts of a project. Wall sheathing is often used only as an additional layer of weather protection, although it may also be required for racking resistance. When let-in diagonal bracing is used to provide racking resistance, wood-panel sheathing can sometimes be eliminated or replaced with more resource-efficient or insulative products.

Phenol-formaldehyde (PF) binders are used in plywood, while OSB can be made with PF or the non-formaldehyde-emitting methyl diisocyanate (MDI), a polyurethane binder. Paradoxically, exterior-rated products using PF binders are less of an offgassing concern than interior-grade panels made with urea-formaldehyde. Oriented-strand board (OSB) can be an efficient use of forest resources because it can be produced from small-diameter or low-grade tree species. Wood products can carry the ?FSC Mixed? label under a percentage-based standard based on the average certified and non-certified throughput of the facility at which they are made. Look for these attributes: FSC-certification; nonformaldehyde binders; nontoxic (to humans) borate insect treatments; or other environmental advantages over conventional OSB and plywood.

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. The panels are typically made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). Other skin material can be used for specific purposes. SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be custom designed for each home. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. Building with SIPs generally costs about the same as building with wood frame construction, when you factor in the labor savings resulting from shorter construction time and less job-site waste. Other savings are realized because less expensive heating and cooling systems are required with SIP construction.

If you must have a log house, but don't want to take responsibility for cutting down several hundred trees, cultured logs might be a solution. Cultured logs are an environmentally friendlier solution, made of composite materials, they offer the character, texture, and appeal of quality wood logs. Cultured Logs eliminate the structural instability, costly maintenance, and susceptibility to fire, mold, insects, and other problems commonly associated with log construction. They have an R value of R19.