Green Building and Implications for Wood Markets

摘要

Current conditions in the housing and forest products sectors are bleak. However, recovery will come eventually, and when it does, it is likely that the housing market will be different than today as consumers and the business climate change. It is also likely that building materials suppliers will need to adjust practices to succeed in the new environment. Successful companies will be those that identify new opportunities and act accordingly. One change that is currently underway is a shift toward green in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. How pervasive and durable the new-found emphasis on green will be over the long term remains to be seen, but a number of signals point to a shift in the expectations of building materials specifiers and users. While the many positive environmental attributes of wood should translate to an expansion of wood demand in a green-oriented market, actions on the part of the wood products industry, including manufacturers and distributors, will likely significantly impact the future market share.