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For many years, wood-frame construction has been providing the world with high-quality, affordable housing. This goes from town houses to multi-storey apartment buildings, and from single-family bungalows to large luxury houses. Wood frame houses are economical to build, heat and cool, and provide maximum comfort to occupants. Wood shells are approximately 1/2 of the cost of a comparable concrete shell. Wood construction is easily adapted to traditional, contemporary and most futuristic building styles. Its architectural possibilities are limitless. |
Environment
Wood is the only major building material that is renewable. Warm, natural wood uses less energy and produces less air and water pollution than the energy intensive manufacturing processes of steel and concrete
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As designers make conscious environmental choices, they are returning to the only building material that uses the sun’s energy to renew itself in a continuous sustainable cycle – wood. Wood is the only major building material that is renewable. Warm, natural wood uses less energy and produces less air and water pollution than the energy intensive manufacture of steel and concrete. In addition, new technology is producing engineered wood systems that maximize the use of the material to reduce resource use. In looking at the scientific evidence, wood clearly makes the grade as the green building material of choice. Environmental Impacts of Homes Designers in Wood, Steel & ConcreteA study by the Canadian Wood Council compares the life cycle impacts of three 2,400 square foot homes designed primarily in wood, steel and concrete, over the first 20 years of their lifespans. Relative to wood design, the steeel and concrete designs:
These differences may seem small until on realizes that only a small portion of the materials in the house (by weight) are involved in framing. The impact can be expected to be many times larger when components made from different materials are compared directly. |
