Many are demanding the use of sustainable and renewable building products in their homes and businesses.

On that level, an association of companies involved in wood flooring say wood flooring is the only option available that is completely sustainable.

Wood flooring is the most abundant and renewable flooring material available. Sustainable forest management makes it possible to harvest wood without any serious impact on the environment, because trees are a renewable resource that can be replaced time and time again.

Wood is produced in what is essentially a factory called a forest - by a renewable source of energy called the sun.

Nonrenewable building materials are produced in man-made factories. They requires fossil fuels that result in high carbon dioxide emissions.

The answer to using environmentally friendly building options is not to use less wood ... but to grow more trees, and to promote sustainable forests.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than average annual removals. In fact, the average growth to removal ratio is 1.66, which means that for every cubic foot of hardwood removed, 1.66 cubic feet is added.

In all, the standing hardwood volume currently is 328 billion cubic feet. That's an increase of nearly 90% since 1953.

Obviously, forests are sustainable, making wood a sustainable resource, and an obvious choice for environmentally conscious consumers.