Consistent energy accounting in production of wood products and competing materials

Changing fuel prices have an impact to varying degrees on prices of materials. The Engineering Experiment Station, University of Wisconsin, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis., is developing a computer model to simulate impacts of changing fuel prices on wood products and competing materials. In comparing energy inputs for various materials, valid and consistent methods must be used for energy accounting. Specific examples are discussed, and five criteria are included that relate to reliable energy accounting.