Wood buildings have many advantages and can reduce the carbon footprint of a building while also providing a safe and stable place to live. They’re also a great way to increase floor space and yield and can be extended or added on.
Building with wood is more sustainable than building with concrete and steel, which emits a lot of CO2. It can help meet greenhouse gas emissions targets and improve a building’s energy efficiency. For more information on Timber Frame Kits, consider a site like https://merlintimberframe.co.uk
Wood has also been used to build structures for thousands of years. In the past century, however, concrete and steel surpassed wood as the primary building material in the West. Concrete hurts the environment because it requires a lot of energy to produce and transport.
Fortunately, the construction industry is starting to switch to more wood-based materials. For example, a quarter of all apartment buildings in Germany are now built from wood.
Architects also opt for wood because of its lightweight, insulating qualities and durability.
According to a study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, a global increase in timber buildings could sequester as much as 700 million tonnes of carbon each year. That’s equivalent to the annual gas consumption of around 700,000 households. The study suggests that policy can help realise the climate benefits of wood building.
A large number of local communities welcome new demand for wood products. Increased demand for softwood could help reopen closed mills and revive some local communities.
