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What Makes Wood One of the Most Sustainable Building Material?
Sustainability is becoming more and more important in our rapidly changing environment. When it comes to design and construction, wood is one of the most renewable building materials we can choose. But you may be wondering whether it’s the right building material for your next project.
In this article, we’ll explain how using wood as a renewable building material can accomplish that goal and so much more.
Increases Carbon Storage
Unlike steel and concrete, which are examples of nonrenewable building materials, trees can be replanted so that more wood can be grown. When a material can be reproduced naturally, it’s considered a renewable resource.
Using sustainable building materials reduces waste and minimizes environmental impact. Renewable building materials also lower CO2 emissions, thereby decreasing our carbon footprint.
The production of wood requires fewer fossil fuels than other building materials. Trees also naturally capture carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, reducing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. As the USDA Forest Service notes in its study on the carbon impacts of wood products, “The results show notable carbon emissions savings when wood products are used in constructing buildings in place of nonwood [sic] alternatives.”
Because trees store carbon as wood fiber, wood products used in building design can lock away carbon for decades. This helps fight climate change. So, for builders looking to be more eco-conscious, wood is often preferable to other types of building materials. Check out this video to learn more about wood’s carbon capture capabilities.
Produces Aesthetic Benefits
While we believe sustainability is an important reason to use wood and other renewable building materials, we understand that as a project developer, you may have other goals you want to achieve. Fortunately, wood has many other benefits to enhance the overall design of your project.
Many people, for instance, have a strong preference for the aesthetic wood provides. Natural wood finishes have a refined quality that elevates a project’s look. There are also many colors and patterns of wood that can be implemented into your project, making wood a versatile building material. The warm tones of wood create an inviting atmosphere that makes it an appealing choice for many.
Improves Mental Health
Maybe it’s all the warm tones of wood that make us feel good. While it may not be the first benefit that comes to mind, wood can actually improve our overall mental well-being.
Research suggests people respond positively to wood as an interior building material. Specifically, some studies show that wood can reduce negative feelings of anxiety, stress, and anger. In fact, one study even suggests that wood can actually improve patient outcomes and help people heal faster.
Being in nature often puts people at ease. So it’s only natural that using wood for interior design would also give people peace of mind.
Increases Seismic Durability
As a building developer or project designer, the safety of your tenants and residents should be a top priority. Building collapses, though rare, do happen, so it’s of the utmost importance that proper precautions are taken to ensure the integrity of the building structure.
When it comes to the force of Mother Nature, wood is one of the most durable materials you can use. Strong winds, earthquakes, and hurricanes can wreak havoc on an improperly designed building. But wood-frame buildings can stand up to the test of time given their strength, flexibility, and lightweight material.
Wood’s durability is the perfect match for the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
Reduces Building Costs
Most developers are concerned with cost and keeping a project within budget—yet another reason to use wood in the construction of your building.
Woodworks conducted a study on the cost and value of timber offices. The study found that one- to four-story wood office buildings cost 20 to 30 percent less per square foot than non-wood offices. When you consider that wood can also increase productivity, designing a wood office seems like a win-win solution for increasing return on investment.
People who work in wood offices also report a higher sense of job satisfaction and better concentration. Furthermore, they’re less likely to miss work, reducing absenteeism.
It’s natural to want to keep project costs low and revenue up. So if you’re looking to design an office space, wood is the best way to go. Your employees are likely to be happier and more satisfied with their work. Meanwhile, you’re likely to turn a greater profit. All because you opted for the right building material when designing your project.
Who knew wood was so good? We did, of course. While wood may not solve all the world’s problems, it’s a step in the right direction—a step toward a sustainable future for us and the next generations.
If you want to learn more about what makes wood one of the most sustainable building materials you can choose, reach out to Oregon Forests Forever. It’s our mission to educate others. We’re passionate about what we do and we’re confident when you learn about the myriad benefits of wood, you’ll be passionate about what it can do for you too.
