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• Passive homes are designed around airtight construction, controlled ventilation, and very low heating and cooling demand, and in the U.S. can be certified through PHIUS (Passive House Institute US).
• Channel Lumber supplies FSC®-certified wood products, mill direct or from its own FSC inventory, in compliance with LEED criteria.
• Bringing architects and engineers in early helps align product availability and performance from the first stage of a project.

Passive homes represent one of the most demanding standards in sustainable building. Where conventional construction relies on mechanical systems to manage comfort, a passive home is designed so the building envelope itself does most of the work, keeping energy use low year round. In the United States, PHIUS sets the criteria a project must meet to earn passive house certification.

For more than 50 years, Channel Lumber has served the Bay Area with lumber, custom milling, and assembly. Its green building commitment centers on an inventory of wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), which the company describes as perhaps the largest in the United States. FSC® is a global nonprofit created to promote responsible forest management, and Channel Lumber’s license allows it to supply FSC material in compliance with LEED criteria, either mill direct or from its FSC/LEED inventory.

That inventory is housed at Channel Lumber’s 14-acre facility in Richmond, California, stocked with lumber for projects of virtually any size or type. An in-house mill equipped with re-saws, a planer, molders, and trim saws handles custom mill work to match specified materials, and the company operates the largest lumber delivery fleet in the Bay Area.

Homes That Hold Their Own Energy

Passive house design brings several elements together: a tightly sealed envelope, high-performance insulation, controlled ventilation for fresh air, and a dramatically reduced need for active heating. Each component supports the others, and the materials chosen for framing, sheathing, and finish work all play a role in how the finished building performs.

LEED offers a related framework. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED addresses the entire building lifecycle, and projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Builders pursuing either standard are working toward the same broader goal: buildings that use fewer resources over their lifetime.

Responsible Materials from the First Drawing

Channel Lumber’s approach is to bring architects, engineers, and project managers into the conversation from the beginning, so the team can share product availability and performance early and help avoid costly delays. Through architects and project management consultation, Channel also offers Value Engineering during pre-construction to identify the most cost-effective permanently installed wood products for LEED’s MRc-7 and MRc-5 credits.

For projects aiming for the highest standards in sustainable building, Channel Lumber is ready to help source responsibly managed materials. Contact Channel Lumber to discuss FSC materials for your next project.

FAQ

How can builders verify Channel Lumber’s FSC® credentials?
Channel Lumber holds FSC License code FSC-C023841, and its Chain of Custody Certificate is available to view and download on the Green Building page.

What condition is lumber in when it arrives on site?
All Channel Lumber products are stored rough and not surfaced until delivery, so clients receive clean, unweathered product.

Does Channel Lumber carry specialty treated products?
Yes. Channel Lumber regularly stocks fire-retardant, pressure treated, and marine-grade product.