House Bill Promotes Use of Green Building Products

St. Louis, MO, July 15, 2009--Wood flooring stands to gain from legislation that was recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives to promote the use of green building products in U.S. schools.

The "Green Schools Modernization" bill was amended to include language that would "require agencies receiving grant funds... to disclose whether any flooring installed was from renewable sources." Wood flooring is a 100 percent renewable flooring option.

The bill specifically recognizes the environmental attributes of hardwoods and authorizes more than $6 billion for new and renovated school construction projects throughout the U.S.

In addition, as originally passed by the House Education and Labor Committee, the bill allows for the use of building products that meet LEED, Green Globes, Energy Star of equivalent state standards. Hardwood can contribute under all these programs.

The amendment was introduced by Representative Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) "to provide that nothing in the bill shall be construed to prohibit a local educational agency from using sustainable, domestic hardwood lumber for public school modernization, renovation, repairs, or construction."

The lead author of the bill, Rep. Ben Chandler (D-KY), backed the amendment, giving it the critical support it needed for a nearly unanimous passage. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for its vote.

The National Wood Flooring Association worked closely with the Hardwood Federation to draft and support this legislation.