Hardwood Council Redesigns Website

Oakmont, PA, November 13, 2006--The Hardwood Council posted a new user-friendly website, published a continuing education course for architects, and disseminated healthy- and green-building information at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Greenbuild Convention. Website Home Page Redesigned The Council recently unveiled a new home page for its website: www.hardwoodcouncil.com, which will provide visitors easier access to a variety of hardwood specifying and educational resources. Architects, designers, and builders can quickly get practical information about American hardwoods in sustainable building and design by choosing from eight hot links to specific topics such as hardwood design values for specifiers, complete profiles for American hardwood species, and technical information on specifying, installing and finishing hardwoods. Educational resources include Continuing Education Units (CEU) for architects and designers, and white papers on sustainability and use of natural materials. Visitors also can order the popular Sustainable Solutions package, a hardwood sample kit containing 20 American hardwood samples, technical information, and the brochure, Sustainable American Hardwoods. A Member Resources section provides links to other sites featuring Buyers’ Guides and additional technical information. The “American Hardwoods in Flooring, Cabinetry, Furniture and Millwork” link offers extensive consumer information on choosing, caring for, decorating and remodeling with American hardwoods. The renovation of the Hardwood Council’s home page was brought on by feedback from architects, designers and educators, who regularly use it as a resource tool. CEUs Highlight Healthy American Hardwood Living Spaces The Hardwood Council also published an American Institute of Architects (AIA)-sanctioned CEU in the November issue of Architectural Record (AR). “American Hardwoods Enhance Healthy, Healing Spaces,” draws on recent research in health care design, which indicates that bringing nature indoors via natural materials can create a stress-reducing, home-like environment that can be associated with more positive medical outcomes. The release is the second consecutive year of offering a CEU through AR. More than 730 architects studied “Designing with American Hardwoods: A Sustainable, Versatile Material Choice,” passed its accompanying test, and received credit for one AIA continuing education unit. The CEU also has been downloaded more than 5,000 times from the website, and only six other courses released through AR have been taken more. Another CEU will be released in January through Interiors and Sources magazine. Sanctioned by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the CEU highlights healthy living spaces that utilize American hardwoods and is representative of the growing demand for natural materials in commercial, academic, and residential facilities. Interiors and Sources published the Council’s “American Hardwoods Rediscovered” course last year. Hard-copy reprints will be made available for distribution to the public at upcoming trade shows, and digital copies are can be found on www.hardwoodcouncil.com.

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