Steel’s Best Defense: It Saves Trees

Regarding “Builders Test Their Metal” by Kathy Price-Robinson (July 8) on steel framing: My only quarrel ... has to do with the remark about environmental impacts. The home-building industry is the main force behind deforestation in North America. Having devastated our forests (less than 5% of old growth remains), it has turned to Canada, which has even longer growth cycles.

This is a serious issue and needs to be addressed. The biggest reason to switch from wood to steel is environmental.

MIKE RODDY

Long Beach