Why should we use wood?
Although the research and development of timber is low and the technical backing
and lack of expertise within individual organisations is very poor, wood should
be our number 1 choice for construction.
Timber is a very flexible versatile material and is widely accepted within
the construction industry, log building, framing, structural, cladding, flooring,
with high strength to weight ratios and vast durable qualitys with outstanding
environmental benefits.
We keep on using materials that are widely accepted in construction, the largest
of which is concrete. Environmentaly concrete has a high energy usage with
high CO2 in production, a very low usage of recycled materials, concrete is
non renewable, but yet in our times of global warming will still use it as
a major material source within domestic housing. The material can be slow to
construct with, it can be cold and unappealing, weather tempertures and conditions
have a bearing on the build with high energy costs to heat building in colder
climates.
Studies into our levels of consumption and pollution reveal that as a global
society we are living beyond the regenerative capacity of our planet, if everyone
lived as we live in the UK we would need three planets, living unsustainably
is resulting in the degradation of our inviroment and human wellbeing.
Over all change is needed we need to learn more about the advantages, quality,
beauty and warmth that wood has to offer, most of all its the best enviromental
choice.
Russia and many of the Baltic States have been producing timber buildings for
centuries, many of which are still standing today. They can’t all be wrong!!!
Timber is a natural source of insulation which helps to keep a constant
temperature within the building and reduce the need for high energy consuming
heating systems. Couple that with solar heating and ‘go green’.
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