Timber family house

Imagined What it could do

Imagine a family home where every beam is carved with leaves and every room smells of fresh wood. Its builders would take only fallen or carefully chosen trees and plant more for every one they used.

Real world Why build with wood?

As trees grow, they take carbon dioxide from the air and lock carbon into their wood. If that wood becomes a building, the carbon stays stored for as long as the building lasts. Making wood products also usually needs much less energy than making steel or cement.

Real world Tall buildings made of wood

Engineered timbers such as cross-laminated timber are made by gluing layers of boards together, each layer at right angles to the last. The panels are strong, stable and surprisingly fire-resistant, because thick wood chars on the outside and protects the inside. Wooden towers of more than 80 meters have been built, such as Mjøstårnet in Norway and Ascent in Milwaukee, USA.

It only helps the planet if forests are managed well, with trees replanted and wildlife protected. Certification schemes such as the Forest Stewardship Council help buyers find wood from responsible sources.

Think about it

1. Would you live in a tall building made of wood? Why or why not?
2. How can we use wood without harming forests?
3. Why does it matter how long a building lasts?

Key words

Mass timber

Large panels and beams made from layers of wood.

Carbon storage

Keeping carbon locked away instead of in the air.

Certification

Proof that something meets certain standards.