Is wood frame construction the most ecological framing material?

Wood sets itself apart from other building materials with one special trait: It’s actually renewable. Overall, wood requires less energy to produce - and is much less costly to extract, refine and transport for use.

While still a popular option for residential construction, concrete and steel have begun to overtake wood in recent years. But let’s consider the following facts when comparing these materials:

Over their life cycles, steel and concrete result in 26 to 36% more greenhouse gas emissions than wood. Because of this, building with wood is an important tool in the fight against climate change. The only caveat is that an equal amount of trees needs to be planted to replenish the resource. There are benefits to planting new trees as well; The trees reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide essential cover and housing for wildlife.

Trees also have a large capacity to store CO2, which basically acts as food for plant life. In fact, nearly half the mass of dry wood is made up of carbon - which remains in the wood even after it has been harvested.

Using one square metre of wood in construction removes 0.9 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.

That means that a typical wooden structure measuring approximately 2,400 sq.ft. retains the equivalent of 29 tons of carbon.

In layman’s terms, a typical wooden building measuring 2,400 sq. ft. holds the equivalent of 29 whole tons of carbon. That’s a lot! In fact, 29 tons of carbon is the same amount generated by an average commuter over 5 years (equivalent to 12,500 liters of gas). This is why substituting wood in construction projects can prevent the emission of many tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

So long as it is well maintained, wood has a long lifespan ahead of it. If you work to protect wood from moisture, pests like termites and structural damage, you’ll have a durable structure that weighs less than concrete - perfect for light frame construction.

Given the advantages of wood, many architects are now seeking out experts in timber construction. Some organizations are even working to promote the use of wood for framing, renovations and commercial construction across the globe.