Western red cedar (WRC) is a widely popular softwood species throughout North America for use in residential and commercial buildings, but there are other important sustainable and renewable coastal softwood species you should know about. Yellow cedar, western hemlock (hem-fir), and Douglas fir have similar performance characteristics and can be used in the same applications as western red cedar. This course will discuss where these species grow, their identifiable characteristics, and where to use coastal softwood appearance lumber in green building projects. We will also explore how these coastal softwood species are a highly sustainable and renewable product that should be considered for use in sustainable design.


Learning Objectives

  • Explore four species of sustainable and renewable coastal softwood timber.
  • Explain how the American Softwood Lumber Standard establishes grades for sustainable softwood appearance lumber.
  • Identify residential and commercial applications for softwood timber and how these sustainable products can be used in green buildings.
  • Examine how sustainably managed forests can impact the climate, carbon emissions, and communities worldwide.

Pre-requisite: None.