Analysis of timber as sustainable material for construction

Abstract

Facing the climate change scenario, professionals and technicians of civil engineering and architecture are searching for ecological solutions and construction methods that would allow for higher energy-efficiency and then reduce environmental impacts. Timber represents one of the best choices for energy-efficient construction, since it also functions as a material with good thermal transmittance properties if compared to other construction materials. This work analyses the possibilities and benefits that wood offers for the construction industry, in terms of sustainability. On the one hand, the sustainable forest management system contributes to ensure the quality and well-management in the exploitation of the forest in order to produce timber and other sub-products such as cork, paper and tree resins. In relation to this, the construction industry has an important role to increase the level of sustainable products by demanding certified timber. On the other hand, due to its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), timber has the lower energy consumption compared to other building materials, as well as the CO2 stored and saved contributes to mitigate climate change. The LCA stages for the production of timber, the potential of saving carbon emissions and its comparison with other building products are presented. Concerning energy efficiency, once timber is implemented in a building taking part of the structure or as cladding material, it provides a high insulation decreasing the thermal transmittance of the walls, roofs, floors and windows. Its versatility as construction material also enables obtaining innovative solutions which can be implemented in buildings, as it is presented in this study. The optimum energy performance and low carbon emissions of timber make from this product a suitable and sustainable material to be highly considered for the construction industry.