NWFA Releases Hardwood Lifecycle Assessment

St. Louis, MO, February 18, 2008– The National Wood Flooring Association Industry Research Foundation has released a life cycle analysis for solid hardwood flooring.

The research was conducted by the University of Wisconsin.

The study analyzed the environmental impact of solid hardwood flooring for harmful air emissions, water consumption, total primary energy consumption and product life expectancy. Wood flooring compared favorably in each of these study areas to other flooring alternatives such as vinyl, linoleum and carpet.

Air emissions tests analyzed four substances that contribute to atmospheric warming and human respiratory ailments. These included carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and other unspecified particulates. Wood flooring had no emissions for methane, nitrogen oxide and other particulates, and minimal emissions for carbon dioxide.

Water consumption used for producing solid wood flooring was substantially less than that used to produce linoleum or carpet, and is generally limited to use in on-site boilers for facility heating.

Primary energy use reflects the collective energy inputs required in manufacturing. Again, wood was found to have the least amount of primary energy consumption.

Wood flooring also stacks up favorably when product service life is compared, because hardwood floors can last hundreds of years.

The full report and supplemental analysis are available on-line through the “What’s New” link on the NWFA’s web site at www.nwfa.org.