Aug 20 2008
Despite their bad rap, greenhouse gases are essential to life on Earth. These gases work in the Earth's atmosphere to trap heat and warm our planet, which is essential for plant and animal life. But just like anything else, too much of a good thing can be harmful.
Environmentalists have been concerned for decades about the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in global warming. One of the elements that has received a great deal of attention in this respect is carbon dioxide, and it is important to understand its impact.
There are two major forms of carbon dioxide: anthropogenic and biogenic. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide is a byproduct of fossil fuel use, such as automobiles. Biogenic carbon dioxide is a byproduct of biomass, and is considered impact neutral on the environment. In other words, carbon dioxide gas emitted from combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide gas taken up by trees as they grow. Through the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are absorbed from the atmosphere, and oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. This process makes wood -- and wood floors -- a carbon neutral product. In addition, wood flooring actually stores carbon throughout its service life, adding to its carbon neutral status.
Want to learn more about the environmental benefits of wood floors? Visit the National Wood Flooring Association's (NWFA) web site at http://www.nwfa.org, and click on the "What's New" link.