Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc. would like to congratulate the University of Maryland’s Watershed team for taking first place in the recent 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Bingaman supplied thermo-treated lumber that the university team used as siding and decking.
Kreamer, PA December 22, 2011
Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc. would like to congratulate the University of Maryland’s Watershed team for taking first place in the recent 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Bingaman supplied thermo-treated lumber that the university team used as siding and decking.
The University of Maryland team built Watershed as a solar-powered home that drew its inspiration from the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The project focused on developing a sustainable lifestyle that included wetlands, solar energy, edible landscapes, and green wood technologies from companies such as Bingaman.
The thermo-treated poplar siding and thermo-treated ash deck lumber that Bingaman provided to the Watershed project reduces the risk of rot and pest infiltration. Thermo-treated lumber is unique in that it does not use chemicals to produce a dimensionally stable product that repels weather and water. The lack of chemicals fits with the Watershed’s goal of creating a sustainable and hospitable ecosystem.
The chemical-free treatment process thermally modifies the lumber by placing it in an oxygen-free kiln at approximately 400 degrees Fahrenheit for fourteen to sixteen hours. The oxygen inside the kiln is replaced with steam, which keeps the wood from burning during the thermo-treating process. Thermo-treated wood produces a rich, through-and-through brown color that ensures the wood’s appearance will not fade, even under heavy wear or outdoor usage.
The University of Maryland’s Watershed project beat out 18 other Solar Decathlon teams, representing colleges and universities from the United States, Canada, China, Belgium and New Zealand. The Solar Decathlon is a biennial event that started in 2002 as a way to challenge college teams to design and build sustainable, energy-efficient, solar-powered homes.
Bingaman & Son Lumber specializes in kiln-dried Appalachian hardwoods that can be used for a variety of applications. The company supplies wood products to customers around the world from its two lumber yards and two sawmills, which are located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. For more information, visit http://www.bingamanlumber.com.
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