Wood is Good: Timber Framing and Sustainable Construction

As the New Year kicks off, many of us try to live more lightly on the planet. Whether that’s by deciding to eat less meat, cutting down on plastic products or making the switch to an electric vehicle, more and more of us each year recognise the need to examine our environmental footprints and reduce any negative impacts we may cause.

And rightly so. Human actions, such as agriculture, construction and the burning of fossil fuels are to be blamed for our planet’s current global warming crisis. Scientists believe that the sheer amount of green house gases and carbon dioxide we pump into our environment has seen the Earth’s temperature rise by as much as 0.8 degrees during the last century. And with rising sea levels and major weather changes happening now, surely everyone’s resolution for 2019 should be to try to combat climate change.

The Cost of Construction

A major contributor to our pollution problem in the UK comes from construction – the manufacturing of steel and cement alone has a huge impact on the environment. Cement production causes half of all the construction industry’s CO2 pollution. That’s why the UK construction industry has been set a target to lower its emissions by a whopping 50%. But with the demand for new housing ever growing, how can the construction industry look to produce less CO2?

Constructing more eco houses, using innovative building materials and building with sustainable materials, such as wood, will help to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The timber framing industry has seen a massive boom over the last few years, with more people choosing to build with nature’s very own building material.

The Benefits of Timber Framing

Sustainability: Timber is natural, organic and beautiful. As mother nature’s premium building material, it’s naturally sustainable. And as timber itself grows naturally, it doesn’t need to be manufactured in a fume-producing factory.

Trees take in CO2 from the environment as they grow. So a thriving timber framing industry means sustainable forests filled with lovely trees, increasing our oxygen and decreasing our CO2. As a tree matures, its absorption rate of CO2 decreases; this is why the felling of mature trees for timber frame construction works so well, as the older trees used are replaced with younger, CO2-hungry ones. And of course, timber is easy to recycle if there is any waste material from a timber frame’s build.

Speed: Timber framing is 30% faster than brick and block construction, reducing time, costs and emissions. As the main, structural beams and trusses of a timber framed building are manufactured off site, its build is not only quicker but also creates less impact on the building’s immediate environment.

Energy Efficiency: Building with timber is not only quicker and reduces carbon emissions during the build process, but it continues to be healthier for the environment when lived in too.

Timber framed buildings are more air tight than those constructed from brick and block; this means less wasted energy in the home. Being so air tight also reduces the risk of future moisture damage.

Building with wood really is good, but how else can you help to reduce harmful emissions?

How a vehicle is driven has a direct impact on the amount of CO2 it creates. So making sure your vehicles aren’t driven over a certain speed and they are turned off when sitting in traffic will decrease your company’s environmental impact.

A fleet tracking system will help you to ensure your vehicles are being driven in the most environmentally friendly way possible, thanks to 24-hour GPS monitoring. By installing tracker systems in your vehicles, you’ll be able to make sure that your drivers don’t waste fuel or employ bad driving habits that will cause excess wear and tear on parts – saving the environment and saving you money too.

If you’re interested in doing your bit for the planet, speak with one of our helpful team, on 0161 476 4050 to discuss how a Phantom tracking system can help to reduce your company’s carbon footprint.