Since the pilgrims first landed on Plymouth Rock in the winter of 1620, generations have relied on North American lumber for homes, stores, schools, houses of worship and any other buildings that have helped shape this country.
But in recent years, in the verve of environmental correctness, groups have deemed some lumber to be "certified" through the U.S. Green Building Council and any other lumber to potentially be of lesser quality or questionable source. Of course, this "special" lumber – just like bottled water – is marketed differently and costs a premium.
As far as any member of the New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Association can tell, the only difference that this certified lumber offers is layers of red tape for the supplier and the ultimate increased cost to the consumer.
The aura surrounding certified lumber is now before the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, which is considering Senate Bill 239, requiring new public schools in New Jersey to use more expensive lumber deemed "certified" by the U.S. Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) program. A companion bill (A-1076) is before the Assembly Education Committee, awaiting a hearing date.
As a building material dealer, I am deeply concerned what would happen if this legislation became New Jersey law. Construction costs for schools would unnecessarily increase, with absolutely no benefit to the students and teachers who use these buildings or the taxpayers footing the bill.
Such legislation would also set a dangerous precedent that could lead to all new public buildings in New Jersey having to use lumber certified through the U.S. Green Building Council. Such legislation would quickly waste millions of dollars in taxpayer money.
With New Jersey teetering on bankruptcy and local school districts facing major cuts in state aid, this legislation is impractical, unnecessary and does nothing to solve the paramount issues plaguing the state.
Such legislation also makes it more difficult for people in the building materials industry to do public work. LEED requirements cause costs to increase throughout the supply chain, from the forests to the retail outlets.
Under LEED, the lumber can only be handled through the strict chain of custody by those who are certified in the program. If this lumber is put in the hands of a yard that is unaffiliated, it is actually deemed corrupted and cannot be sold as certified.
If my company were to become LEED certified – in which we would be permitted to sell this "certified" lumber – it would cost us thousands of dollars to follow the regulations of the program. We'd also have to stock certified and uncertified lumber in all the dimensions, doubling our inventory, and making sure the products were clearly separated. This would double my costs for such expenses as financing, space allocation, administration, insurance and other related expenses.
And, after all this, we would still be offering the same quality lumber as we do now – such as Douglas fir harvested from heavily controlled and well-managed forests in Northwest America.
What supporters of LEED don't want the public to know is that building material dealers already purchase lumber from commercial forests strictly regulated by the government. Companies can't just cut down trees and not replace them; it doesn't make economic sense.
That's why there is more standing lumber in this country now than 100 years ago – despite everything we have built with wood.
As such, there is absolutely nothing wrong with lumber not certified by LEED. But scare tactics are making it seem inferior, prompting well-intentioned state lawmakers to consider legislation to protect the public.
I strongly question the value of LEED, other than a way to generate revenue for the people who oversee the program. Before any laws are adopted in New Jersey that will increase taxpayer expense, lawmakers must recognize that lumber, itself, is already the most renewable building material out there – whether it is "certified" or not.
Keith Coleman, President of Hamilton Building Supply in Hamilton, is second vice president of the New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Association. He can be reached at 609-587-4020.
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