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Forest management has a positive impact on the climate.
Building with timber is
‘climate smart’
Wood has many benefits in construction, one of the most
significant is that it is kind to the environment and contributes
to climate smart building.
By Swedish Wood | Photos by Pixabay
T
hrough photosynthesis, growing trees store carbon
dioxide in the form of carbon compounds and the
faster the forest grows; the more carbon dioxide is
captured. From a climate perspective, it is therefore better
to manage the forest and use the wood than to leave the
forest untouched.
Carbon dioxide that is stored in the trees remains in place
throughout the life of the tree, even after it has been turned
into a wood product. Therefore, it is particularly good to use
wood for large and long-lasting products such as the
structural frames of buildings.
38 JUNE / JULY 2019 //
WOOD HAS CLIMATE BENEFITS IN EVERY PHASE
Production phase
• The energy required to saw and plane wood products is
relatively low and the by-products (such as bark and
wood chips) are used as biofuel for the sawmills’ drying
kilns.
Usage phase
• Wooden buildings and products store carbon dioxide for
their entire life.
• Increasing the use of wood in construction can cut the
www.timberiq.co.za