April 17th, 20155 Eco-Friendly Reasons To Choose Cedar Fencing

We live on a pretty great planet (it’s the best we’ve found so far!), so anything we can do to help keep it healthy for the decades and centuries to come is great. When given the option, more and more homeowners are opting for “green”, environmentally-friendly choices when it comes to home improvements, and fencing is no different.

It may surprise you to learn that one of the most environmentally-friendly fencing materials is cedar wood, an option that has long been valued for its use in outdoor construction.

1. Cedar is Local
   In the Fraser Valley, much of the Western Red Cedar used for building fences is locally sourced in BC. Not only is this great for the local economy and employment, but it reduces the emissions generated in transport. When we use cedar for building our fences, we aren’t shipping material across an ocean or trucking it from the other side of the country.

2. Cedar is Renewable
   Wood is a renewable resource as it can be re-planted and harvested many times over. In fact, wood is the only building material that is renewable. In BC, we have a very strong cedar planting program and an average of 8 million seedlings are planted each year. When Western Red Cedar is planted in a high-density pattern, every second tree can be harvested after 20 years - which happens to be the lifespan of the average cedar fence!
   
   

3. Cedar is Useful
   Western Red Cedar is one of the only materials that is used in its entirety upon harvesting. That means that every piece of wood is used for lumber, cedar shakes and shingles, pulp and paper, or for energy in the mills that produce the wood products.
   Greenpeace Co Founder, Patrick Moore, said, “So far as an environmentally friendly building product, wood is the clear leader.”

4. Cedar is Biodegradable
   The average lifespan of a cedar fence is 20 years so, like most building materials, there will come a time when it needs to be replaced. Like all woods, cedar is biodegradable, meaning that it can be broken down naturally and absorbed into the earth without harm.  

5. Cedar is a Low-energy, Low-emission Choice
   When it comes to production and manufacturing, wood is by far the environmentally-friendly choice. The emissions created in the manufacturing of other fencing products are higher than those of wood, so Red Cedar really is a great choice from beginning to end.

There are many things to consider when it comes to building a new fence or arbour for your home. If you’re looking for a beautiful, durable, eco-friendly option, you can’t go wrong with Red Cedar - especially if you live in BC!