Wood buildings have many positive attributes such as shorter construction timelines, ease of insulation to achieve high energy performance, aesthetics, lower construction costs and considerably lower environmental impacts, due in part to their ability to sequester carbon–a principal feature that could help mitigate the effects of climate change. This article will focus on environmental impacts and the tools available to make a sound environmental assessment.
A decision to use wood as the primary framing system in a building allows designers to minimize environmental impacts while achieving the lowest financial burden on owners. Wood is the only primary structural material that grows naturally and is renewable. Long before solar panels, wind turbines and geo-thermal heat exchangers made their way into our construction lexicon, wood was the original renewable resource. Haynes et al1 (2000) projected that by 2050, the demand for softwood products will increase by 38 percent, while softwood timber inventory (standing timber) will grow by 58 percent. Owners and their designers can therefore feel confident that the wood products they specify come from forests that are in abundant and sustainable supply.