“Building Green” isn’t new to the structural building components industry. In fact, we’ve been green since 1952!

Alpine® is committed to helping truss manufacturers, builders, remodelers and homeowners’ practice environmental responsibility and sustainability by conserving today’s resources for tomorrow’s children. Every effort is made to offer products that balance design and performance with environmental responsibility. There’s no getting around it: The wood you purchase comes from one of the earth’s most renewable resources — trees. Wood is the most efficient material of all the major building products.

Building components minimize the amount of material used and job site waste created. This is a no brainer, but it’s a good point to reinforce with builders and general contractors. And there’s data to prove it! The WTCA & SBCA 1995 and 2015 Framing the American Dream projects reported more than 25 percent material savings when structural components were used to frame a house, versus stick frames. According to the project, a stick framing house also generated 30 times more jobsite waste, compared to framing with structural components. Visit www.sbcindustry.com for more details.

Components are designed to utilize materials most efficiently. Don’t forget that material efficiency is inherent to the process of component design. Design software from Alpine® allows the designer or technician to value engineer and optimize virtually any component design. This means material is not used when it isn’t needed. Many green building rating systems recognize this benefit of components and award points based on their use. The National Resource Defense Council realized this fact in 1998 when it placed trusses high on its list of great products due to optimum value engineering. View their detailed report at www.nrdc.org.

The use of components tightens a building’s envelope. More precision is built into components with the technology available today and also because they’re built under controlled conditions. When a good foundation is in place, component construction provides for more precision that fosters a tighter building envelope. This means that consumers will conserve energy while enjoying less draft and heat loss.

‘Framing the American Dream’
1995 and 2015 Projects’ Results

1995

Stick Built
Component
Savings
Total Jobsite Hours to Erect
401 hrs
148 hrs
253 hrs
Total Jobsite Waste Generated
17 cubic yds
4 cubic yds
13 cubic yds
Total Board Foot Lumber/EWP
20,400 BD FT
15,100 BD FT
5,300 BD FT

2015

Stick Built
Component
Savings
Total Jobsite Hours to Erect
375.5 hrs
152.1 hrs
223.4 hrs
Total Jobsite Waste Generated
15.0 cubic yds
0.5 cubic yds
14.5 cubic yds
Total Board Foot Lumber/EWP
20,643 BD FT
15,052 BD FT
5,591 BD FT

Additional information about sustainable building practices and component fabrication is available by visiting:

www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/whybuild.html
www.nrdc.org/cities/building/rwoodus.asp
www.sbcacomponents.com
www.sbcacomponents.com/fad

Sustainable Construction

The built environment has a vast impact on the natural environment, human health and the economy. By adoption sustainable building practices, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance. Sustainable construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage – from design and construction to renovation and deconstruction. However, the most significant benefits can be obtained when the design and construction team take an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project.

Some of the many potential benefits of sustainable building can include:

Environmental Benefits

  • Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Improve air and water quality
  • Reduce waste streams
  • Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic Benefits

  • Reduce operating costs
  • Expand markets for sustainable products and services
  • Improve occupant productivity
  • Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Social Benefits

  • Enhance occupant comfort and health
  • Heighten aesthetic qualities
  • Minimize strain on local infrastructure
  • Improve overall quality of life

For more information on sustainable construction, view our fact sheet.