Follow us:
Subscribe to our e-newsletter

logo

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Products and Services
  • Events
  • Online Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Products
  • Events
  • Online Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Is building with timber really sustainable?

15 Feb, 2021
31
by the Head of the National Sustainability Forum (NSF), Yaara Plaves.
sustainable
The Fleurieu Aquatic Centre in South Australia (image supplied).


As part of our sustainable practice journey – both design and operational – Hames Sharley has established the National Design Forum (NSF) to promote sustainability. A large part of this conversation centres on materials and what makes it sustainable.

Hames Sharley has decided to use the ILFI as the framework, using the Declare label and the Red List as the first filters through which we ascertain material sustainability. After that, we have prepared a questionnaire for suppliers that have no accreditation under the above. From this, we have distilled a list of materials that are the basis for our sustainable selections, linked to our BIM processes.

When considering sustainable building materials, timber is an obvious option. As a renewable resource we can replace the timber we cut down and grow more. Other building materials are finite, with raw materials being depleted rapidly.

However, this is only one consideration of the sustainability of materials. Other factors, using the Declare label criteria, are: what is it made of, what is the life expectancy, where is it made, what is the embodied energy and where does it go at the end of its life.

Briefly addressing the first two points, timber is a natural material which can be very durable if properly maintained. Glue and varnish/paint used for fixing and finishing can have high VOCs so their use should be carefully considered.

The timber industry in Australia is well regulated and relies on plantation timbers and harvesting of natural forests. Land clearing is a major contributor to carbon emissions and increases biodiversity loss, but according to the ABC, the primary reason for land clearing in Australia is agriculture, not the timber industry.

The use of Plantation timber from USA, Canada and Europe is acceptable, provided it is certified. There are certification programs for timber sourced elsewhere overseas, but the validity and transparency of logging and manufacturing are harder to verify.

Although timber is carbon neutral and renewable, it has to be correctly sourced. There are great opportunities for saving carbon emissions by using timber as a structural material rather than concrete or steel. Using locally sourced plantation timber reduces transportation-related emissions. The most sustainable option is recycled timber. (A conversation for another time).

Timber lends itself beautifully to prefabrication, being easy to dismantle and reuse and perfect for frameworks such as Buildings As Material Banks (BAMB), where circular economy principles drive the design process. It means that buildings are designed to be dismantled, and the components can be reused in other buildings, rather than using new materials and creating waste. Fixing methods are critical, as mechanical fixings make deconstruction and reconstruction easier.

Overall, considering timber through the above criteria, it is a sustainable option, provided it is correctly sourced and certified. By understanding how to work with timber as a structural element while maintaining fire and acoustic performance, we can unlock the potential for economic and environmental sustainability benefits. There are benefits for using prefabricated timber structures for reduced construction time and waste. There are also possibilities for modular construction that can be deconstructed for reuse. The agility and flexibility of timber make it ideal for adaptive construction systems while reducing the carbon footprint of construction.

Related Articles

civic building

The first net-zero-energy mass timber civic building in the U.S.

Market Square

Market Square to be one of SA’s first all-electric workplaces

Heliostat technology shines at Rhodes Central

Heliostat technology shines at Rhodes Central

Metro and CEFC shoot for the stars with new greener homes

Metro and CEFC shoot for the stars with new greener homes

Comments

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Latest Posts

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Resources
30 Jun

AEMO releases energy roadmap to phase out coal generation

30 Jun

Cairns charging up with new network-connected battery

30 Jun

MGA Thermal announces breakthrough in storage technology

29 Jun

Survey shows majority of Australians want investment in renewables

29 Jun

New renewably-powered desalination plant planned for Alkimos

23 Jun

Cities of the future may be built with algae-grown limestone

22 Jun

Global sophisticated green building designs awarded

22 Jun

A national environmental impact standard to measure embodied carbon

15 Jun

Australian cities falling behind global cities on sustainability according to 2022 Sustainable Cities Index

14 Jun

Only timber can tackle climate change – timber and the latest construction technology

29 Jun

Binding methane with metal: a new hope for recycling the potent fossil fuel

29 Jun

WA’s first Clean Energy Future Fund project now operational

29 Jun

New battery and critical minerals prospectus to power investment

29 Jun

Australian-German business coalition produces a roadmap for large scale green hydrogen import to Germany

24 Jun

Farmers say food supply must come before gas export industry

Online Magazine

    Current Cover
  • Login
  • Subscribe

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter

Our Titles

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
© Sage Media Group 2022 All Rights Reserved.
×
Authorization
  • Registration
 This feature has been disabled
 This feature has been disabled until further notice, however you may still register
×
Registration
  • Autorization
Register
* All fields required