Green Leadership
What is Colonial Craft’s involvement in Green?
As a pioneer in certification, Colonial Craft became the first U.S. Hardwood Millwork manufacturer to achieve Forest Stewardship Council© (FSCTM) certification in 1994. We continuously strive to improve our processes by conserving natural resources through engineering, reuse and recycling of materials, and promoting energy conservation. At Colonial Craft, we manufacture quality mouldings to last a lifetime, generated from nature’s renewable resource - wood.
What is FSC-certification?
Like an organic label for food, wood labeled with the FSC logo assures consumers it came from a well-managed forest. FSC-certification is the most widely respected environmental certification program across the globe. FSC-certified wood products protect important wildlife habitat and clean water in our forests by ensuring that logging is done in an environmentally responsible manner. In addition, forest landowners must also show they meet standards of economic and social sustainability including addressing the needs of local communities and workers in order to become certified. You can find out more at www.fscus.org.
What FSC-Certified products are available?
Homeshield Colonial Craft purchases FSC material when it is available and has been instrumental in creating a demand for FSC lumber over the last decade, even when consumer demand was low. Homeshield Colonial Craft sources American Cherry, Red Oak, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Yellow Poplar, and Pine on a continual basis, as well as other species as requested by customers, based on availability.
Can FSC-Certification earn LEED credits?
FSC is the only wood certification allowed in LEED’s (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s) Green Building Rating System. One point can be earned under Credit #7 for a minimum of 50 percent use of wood-based FSC-certified materials. In addition to millwork, this includes structural and dimensional framing, flooring, doors, windows, and furnishings as well as other applications. You can find out more at www.usgbc.org.
How does Homeshield Colonial Craft incorporate green practices?
In addition to involvement with FSC-certification, Homeshield Colonial Craft strives to constantly reduce overall environmental impact. Green initiatives are inherent in the corporate culture. For example, wood bi-product is used as the sole heat source for the entire facility, while the remainder is sold for local boiler systems and animal bedding. Also, energy consumption is reduced up to 7% each year as a result of outside energy audits conducted by Xcel Energy (www.xcelenergy.com) & Focus on Energy (www.focusonenergy.com). In addition, annual goals for cost savings are achieved by lean initiatives, which result in reducing waste and improving resource management. In 2007, Colonial Craft received the Lean Presidents Award for excellence in Lean and visual factory. Reducing, reusing and recycling of consumable items such as pallets, cardboard, banding, oil, and light bulbs, just to name a few, also contributes to decreasing unnecessary waste.