A recent exhibit at the National Building Museum focused on the future of timber structures in the United States especially the development of new markets for cross laminated timber (CLT). The exhibit highlighted the environmental benefits of wood products. This is information you need to know and share with others. This project was developed by Yugon Kim and Tomomi Itakura of IKD.
Timber Provides Benefits at Every Stage of its Life
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method of evaluating the environmental impact of a product over its lifetime, including how much energy is used and how much waste is released into the environment. A closer look at wood’s life cycle demonstrates that it is environmentally friendly at every stage.
• Forests absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
• Trees are a renewable resource and store carbon.
• Manufacturing processes typically use all parts of the log, producing virtually no waste and little pollution.
• Mass timber makes it possible to build tall, durable buildings that are constructed quickly and efficiently.
• Timber buildings are energy efficient and healthy for occupants.
• Wood products can be reused or recycled to create new products.
• Wood can be burned for clean energy.
Why Harvest Timber? Wood Stores Carbon
Trees need CO2 to grow. They have the unique ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store it long-term in their fiber. To combat climate change effectively, trees should be harvested at maturity when CO2 absorption is at its peak.
Trees’ Natural CO2 Cycle
1. Young trees absorb carbon rapidly.
2. Mature trees absorb carbon slowly.
3. Decaying trees and fires release carbon.
4. Carbon is reabsorbed into new trees.
TIMBER FACTS
IN THE U.S., FORESTS AND FOREST PRODUCTS STORE ENOUGH CARBON EACH YEAR TO OFFSET APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE NATION’S CO2 EMISSIONS.
(Source: U.S. Congress)
WOOD PRODUCTS MAKE UP 47% OF ALL INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S., YET CONSUME ONLY 4% OF THE TOTAL ENERGY NEEDED TO MANUFACTURE ALL INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS.
(Source: APA – The Engineered Wood Association)
ON AVERAGE, NORTH AMERICAN WOOD PRODUCERS USE 98% OF EVERY TREE BROUGHT TO A MILL FOR PROCESSING.
(Source: reThink Wood)
USING WOOD SUBSTITUTES COULD SAVE 14-31% OF GLOBAL CO2 EMISSIONS AND 12-19% OF FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION.
(Source: Journal of Sustainable Forestry)
GROWTH EXCEEDS PROJECTED HARVEST:
Due to sustainable forest management certification systems, today’s forest growth exceeds harvest by 40%. The average standing volume of wood in the U.S. is 50% greater than it was in 1952.
FIRE RESISTANCE:
Timber does not ignite until it reaches more than 480°F. When it catches fire it develops a protective char layer. Large timber beams have better fire resistance than unprotected steel beams of similar size because the interior of timber remains much cooler. Average building fires reach temperatures of 1,300°F to 1,800°F. While timber stays strong, steel weakens as its temperature exceeds 450°F; at 1,400°F steel retains only 10% of its strength.
(Source: National Fire Protection Association)
BUILDINGS IN THE U.S. ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 70% OF THE NATION’S ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND 39% OF CO2 EMISSIONS.
(Source: U.S. Green Building Council)
WOOD IS A CARBON NEGATIVE BUILDING MATERIAL WHICH ALMOST NO OTHER STRUCTURAL MATERIAL CAN ALSO CLAIM.
(Source: Western Wood Preservers Institute)
