Sustainability and efficiency have been core values since Woodpecker’s inception. Our founder implemented a Zero Waste Policy early on, and we’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. By optimizing timber lengths and cross-section processing, reusing cut-offs, protecting materials from the elements, and sourcing from sustainable vendors, we’ve made great strides.
In fact, when it comes to timber and mass timber components, we produce virtually zero waste. Any shavings, small cut-offs, or wood dust are compressed into briquettes and burned in a state-of-the-art, fully automated boiler to heat our facilities. This process helps us divert about 150,000 kg of waste from the landfill each year.
By turning byproducts into biofuel, we not only reduce waste, we create a self-sustaining operation that benefits our clients and the planet. When you choose Woodpecker, you’re choosing a partner committed to building smarter, cleaner, and greener.
Remaining shavings, sawdust, and wood dust are collected and compressed into dense briquettes using an in-house briquetting system.
These briquettes are burned in our state-of-the-art, fully automated biomass boiler, providing clean heat for our 15,000 ft² facility, even through Alberta winters.
We offer hand-applied and machine-applied stains in a wide range of tones, clear coats, and UV protectants. All of our finishes use low-VOC, environmentally friendly products like Sansin for a healthier, longer-lasting result, for both inside and out.
Woodpecker Timber Framing is proudly based in Exshaw, Alberta, nestled between Canmore and Calgary in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. This strategic location isn’t just beautiful, it’s essential to our sustainable operation.
We source our wood fibre locally from Alberta and British Columbia, reducing transportation emissions and supporting regional forestry partners committed to sustainable harvesting practices.
Being located in Western Canada allows us to collaborate closely with leading sustainability-focused institutions, like SAIT and Passive House Canada, helping push mass timber innovation forward.
For your project, this means cost savings and the peace of mind knowing that our work has minimal environmental impact. Wood, as a building material, offers a significant advantage: it has lower embodied energy, produces less pollution, and carries a much lighter carbon footprint compared to alternatives like concrete and steel.
One of Woodpecker’s proudest sustainable building projects is “The Confluence,” a small residential home located in rural Alberta. This project targeted LBC (Living Building Challenge) certification, meaning it was built to meet the world’s strictest sustainability standards. In collaboration with SAIT (South Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary), we meticulously planned and constructed this home, and it stands as one of only a few residential buildings globally to meet that standard.
