How Timber Buildings Impact Environmental Sustainability?

The key to sustainable living starts with minimising the use of plastic products and switching to natural ones. Environmental sustainability in the built environment should always be observed because the use of eco-friendly building materials significantly affects the way people live, more than we realise.
Stricter requirements for energy efficiency in future and ongoing building projects are being implemented throughout Europe. These are focused on the choice of building materials and systems regarding their environmental effects. This implementation is due to the rising rate of environmental destruction being caused by the building industry. Because of this, eco-friendly building materials have swarmed the market, allowing more and more sustainable possibilities for building designs.
Why Use Timber for Building Projects?
Timber is known to be the most durable natural building material for construction projects. Various benefits can be experienced by using timber.
1. Because it is a natural material, excretion of harmful toxins caused by chemicals are reduced.
2. Timber is renewable. As long as the cut ones are being replaced, we will not lose supply of timber. At the end of the wood's lifespan, it can be burned to make use of its stored solar energy as opposed to burning coal, oil or gas.
3. Timber has a high strength to weight ratio.
4. Using timber as a building material cuts the effort and time in installation. Later additions are relatively easier.

5. Timber's aesthetically pleasing appeal makes it a great product for clients who want to achieve a natural looking building.
6. Using timber benefits not only the property owner but also the whole planet. Producing timber takes very little energy compared to conventional materials like steel, concrete and masonry.
Responsible logging should always be observed when harvesting timber. When a tree is cut, it should always be replaced. Trees play a huge role in our everyday lives. They absorb and convert carbon dioxide to produce the oxygen people need in order to live. Planting trees make a difference in so many ways. Using timber for building projects extends its beneficial effects from the forests into residential and commercial infrastructures.
This timely topic will be discussed at the DesignBUILD Expo 2017 in the ICC in Sydney so budding engineers and architects' minds are opened to the importance of sustainability. Register now at www.designbuildexpo.com.au
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