Using Sustainable Wood Products for Eco-Conscious Construction
The construction industry is going through a change, and this is highly attributed to the push for sustainable methods of construction to minimize the negative impact on the environment.
Biomass woods have slowly become an important green material in construction, and related projects, bringing versatility and beauty that is equal to, if not greater than, the typical materials, concrete and metal.
As there has been improvement in the field of forestry and engineering, wood is gradually taking its position as one of the most suitable materials for new constructions and creative designs.
The following article examines environmental advantages, current uses, and complications of renewable wooden materials in construction.
Environmental Advantages of using Sustainable Wood Products
That timber is naturally renewable on the proviso that it is sourced legally from well managed forests.
Merely harvested and effectively used, the produce involving woods remains central in the fight against global climatic change as well as conservation of natural resources.
Carbon Storage and Less Emissions
Of all, the wood products have a special consideration since they can function as carbon neutral.
Plants take in carbon dioxide while they are growing and throughout their lifespan, this carbon is locked into the body of the tree, and if used in construction, remains locked in.
On the other hand, the manufacturing of these basic materials such as steel and concrete, is very expensive in terms of energy consumption & this leads to emission of greenhouse gases.
If builders replace these materials with renewable wood, then it will be possible to drastically decrease the carbon footprint of certain projects.
Conservation and Management of Energy and Resources
Compared to other construction materials, manufacturing of wooden products uses a lot less energy and therefore is suitable for construction enthusiasts who care for the environment.
In particular, wood is a renewable resource, malleable, reusable, degradable, and might be sourced locally, which in turn reduces environmental pollution resulting from transportation.
Incorporating wood into circular construction economy means turning the waste into new products or energy, which adds more value to the concept.
Thermal and Acoustic Benefits
Wood also has some advantages of being cheap in terms of energy as well as sound insulation.
Such structures withstand internal temperature fluctuations, therefore, the use of artificial means such as heating and air conditioning is negligible.
This, in turn, leads to reduced utility costs for electricity for the entire life of the building excluding construction.
Innovative Applications of Renewable Wood in Construction
Certified renewable wood has been made more flexible and therefore used in many construction projects ranging from the conventional small houses to the modern composite business structures.
a) Mass Timber Construction for Skyscrapers
Advanced developments of engineered wood products, particularly cross-laminated timbers (CLT) and glulam (glue-laminated timber), have given new prospects for using woods in contemporary structures.
They have very high capacity, are strong, rigid, and have heat resistant properties, ideal for high rise building typology that has conventionally employed concrete and steel.
Modern striking structures such as the Mjøstårnet tower in Norway provide a glimpse of what mass timber offers as an innovative solution to progress in building green cities.
b) Prefabrication & Modular design
Relatively new to prefabrication and modular construction is the renewable wood products as a potential area.
The construction system whereby structure components such as the wooden panels and modules are built away from the construction site under standard environmental conditions before being mounted is known as prefabrication.
It improves accuracy and affords the added value of custom appearances without increasing the cost of construction while being environmentally friendly.
c) Hybrid Wood Structures
Integrating timber with others like steel or concrete in framed constructions increases the characteristics of each material and subdues the impacts on the environment.
For instance, wood can be used for walls, floors, and ceilings; steel or concrete, on the other hand,d supports the floors.
And while using such hybrid designs ensures sustainability, it also provides sufficient rigidity or strength.
d) Long-life Interiors and Facade
The presence of wood as an organic material gives it a rich feel as well as giving interiors an aesthetic touch as a finishing material as well as external décor.
Flooring adhesives include plywood and MDF (medium density fiberboard) used for flooring, cabinetry, as well as in wall panels.
At the same time, the use of wooden façade brings to a building not only the outlook but also the insulating functions.
Challenges and Solutions for Adopting Renewable Wood Products
Despite all the potentials that sustainable wood products hold, several barriers need to be overcome for the products to gain better acceptance in the construction sector.
a) Sustainable Management of Forest and Resources
A decline of wood through sustainably driving logging practices and deforestation undermines the optimist conception of sustainable wood products.
Those who need to guarantee the steadiness of a supply of raw materials have to follow the basic principles of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
For this reason, governments, builders, and consumers must continue insisting on certified wood in order to encourage sustainable practices among these companies.
b) Problems of Fire Resistance and Durability
This paper argues that even with recent developments of sustainable wood products, issues to do with fire rating and sensitivity to moisture still persist.
These problems are solved by modern treatments and innovations including fire-resistant varnish, pressure treatments, and moisture-resistant finishing.
These points may be unfamiliar to stakeholders which may lead to misunderstanding, hence they should be effectively informed of the advanced research work done on wood to increase confidence in its safety and performance.
c) Cost and Market Perception
The first costs of the sustainable wood products are generally higher than the conventional construction materials, which can be a discouraging factor for some construction firms.
When one takes his/her time to determine the cost of constructing a building from woods and with regards to energy expenditure, and the ease to assemble the woods and the total time spent constructing the building, he or she will find out that woods is a cheaper material.
To the same extent, Education can also help alter the market’s perception of its long-term advantages to enable the increased uptake.
d) Rational or Regulatory and Code Boundaries
Generally, building codes and standards are set based on conventional materials; thus limiting the use of wood in emerging advantageous usages such as in high-rise structures.
To harness wood engineering’s full potential, knowledge must be shared about future policies and modifications of existing codes.
Conclusion
Sustainable wood products have proved to be a viable solution towards realizing green buildings.
These environmental aspects together with the enhanced engineered wood technologies make the latter suitable for use in construction to replace traditional construction materials.
From high-rises to low-cost housing, how sawn timber is transforming construction around the world.
Issues like sustainable foresting, issues of durability and government policies that make it difficult for organisations to exploit forest resources can only be solved with the cooperation of industry players, governments and the consumer.
While sustainable construction continues to be adopted across the world, renewable wood products are well positioned to define a sustainable built environment.
By employing this classic yet technically advanced material, the construction industry can go a long way toward developing a sustainable environment for the future.
Also read: Natural Stone vs Engineered Stone: Sustainability Compared