Environmental sustainability has become a global concern. Countries and companies are becoming more aware of the harm they cause and are looking for ways to mitigate the harm. Construction procedures and materials can harm the environment, and this has sparked interest in the development of environmentally friendly techniques and materials.
Individuals, companies and governments are striving to improve the environmental performance of their buildings and the materials used. Buildings account for 35-40% of US energy consumption and a similar percentage of national carbon emissions. Green construction is essential for sustainability and mitigating environmental damage.
Implement green building methods in your next construction project.
Wood is a renewable resource that can contribute to sustainability in the construction industry. It can be difficult to think of wood as a sustainable material since it is associated with deforestation. However, man-made building materials such as concrete and steel have a huge carbon footprint, causing even more damage to the environment. Using wood instead of steel or concrete reduces environmental impact as well as construction and operating costs.
Advances in construction technology allow the use of wood in a wide variety of nonresidential, multistory, and large-span buildings. Building codes have evolved accordingly to accommodate wood construction methods.
Wood as a building material
Wood is a versatile organic material and the only renewable building material. Wooden structures have certain properties that make them durable and strong. With proper fire retardant treatment, wood can be a reliable building material with a long service life.
Benefits of Wood
Thermal properties: Wood does not undergo great expansion with heat. Furthermore, the combination of low thermal conductivity and high specific heat provides insulation
Acoustic properties: Wood can amplify or mitigate sound based on its orientation. Sound is transmitted along the grain direction and mitigated in the perpendicular direction.
Electrical properties: Dry wood is an excellent electrical insulator and does not accumulate static electricity. However, note that the electrical resistance of wood is inversely proportional to its moisture content.
Mechanical properties: Wood has high strength and durability. It also has a high breaking length – the length at which a material breaks under its own weight when hung
Aesthetic properties: Wood is considered cozy, rustic and decorative. It also offers variety in color, shape, smell and texture. The wood can be painted to obtain the desired finishes. With this versatility, this material is also a great option for building outdoor furniture for the interior of your home. If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can build simple projects out of wood, whether for decoration or practical use.
Maintenance: Wood does not rust like metals and can be repaired and maintained. Old wood can be restored, although the operation can be expensive
Variety: There are more than 5,000 species of wood, and the properties mentioned above vary for each type.
Understanding the Limitations of Wood
Wood has limitations like any construction material, but these can be mitigated with various protection methods. Ideally, wood should be used in products that take advantage of its benefits and where its limitations are not major problems.
Shrinkage and swelling: Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. This causes the wood to shrink and swell.
Biotic deterioration: As it is an organic material, wood serves as food for some plants and animals. Biological deterioration can occur due to attacks by fungi, termites, beetles, ants, etc.
Abiotic deterioration: Non-biological deterioration of wood can be caused by sun, wind, water, chemicals and fire. Using thick wood as a structural element can help mitigate deterioration.
Wood protection methods to improve performance
Selecting the right type of wood according to the project conditions is essential, ensuring its good performance. The main wood protection techniques include drying, coating and impregnation. This can help eliminate key limitations of the material.
Coating:
- Provides protection for internal and external applications
- Prevents rapid absorption and loss of moisture
- Reduces shrinkage and swelling
- Some coatings protect wood from ultraviolet rays
- Fungicides can be added to coatings
Drying: Drying can prevent wood degradation and is typically air or oven dried. The oven drying method is more effective because it kills fungi and insects while removing moisture more effectively.
Wood preservatives: They are used in situations where the wood will be constantly exposed to liquids, insects and the elements.
Flame Retardants: It is impossible to make wood non-combustible, but it can be treated with flame retardants. The two types of retardants used for wood are coatings and water-soluble chemical salts. They increase the combustion point, reduce the formation of flammable gases and mitigate the spread and penetration of flames.
Wood as a green product
Renewable
Unlike other construction materials such as concrete and steel, wood is renewable. It can be grown and harvested multiple times.
To reduce, to reuse and to recycle
Wood waste can be recycled and transformed into new products. Additionally, innovative designs can optimize the use of materials to reduce waste.
Carbon footprint
Steel and concrete manufacturing processes release carbon dioxide into the environment, and transportation also increases carbon emissions. Wood harvested from sustainably managed forests has a smaller carbon footprint and trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis
Forest Certification
Look for certified wood to ensure it comes from sustainable forests. This helps reinforce forestry practices among consumers and retailers, eliminating destructive logging practices.
