Reasonable Objections As they stand at the crossroads, considering whether or not to join the green movement, remodelers are sometimes faced with a tough choice: Abandon the old, familiar way of doing things? Or do it the green (not necessarily easy) way?

Take the purchasing of lumber, for example.

Twenty years ago, it was easy for builders to get 2x4s from old-growth forests. The wood was straight, and unlikely to warp. But today, 95% of the nation’s indigenous trees have been cut. Forests have been replaced by fast-growing tree farms that yield lumber that twists and cracks.

Alternatives do exist, such as reclaimed lumber, engineered lumber, SIPs, and Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, which is selectively cut and pesticide-free.

The argument: It’s hard for remodelers in many parts of the country to purchase FSC-certified wood or some of those other green alternatives. Lumberyards don’t carry it. Maybe they have a contract with a competing product, and there’s only so much space on their aisles. Or, even if lumberyards do carry it, it comes at a premium. It’s easier to buy what’s affordable and on the lot.

True enough. To take a step toward green building, though, remodelers will have to pressure lumberyards to carry the products they want, or go straight to the manufacturers themselves, say green advocates. When there’s enough market pressure, high-quality FSC-certified wood will become widely available, and the forests will stop being pillaged. And that, ultimately, will help curb the effect of greenhouse gases and global warming.

In other words, remodelers hold the power to change things. And some believe it’s time to use that power.

Alice Bumgarner is a freelance writer based in Durham, N.C. When she’s not covering the remodeling industry, she writes about food, travel, and parenting. Her work has been published in Salon, Sky, and Town & Country magazines, among others.