Why Choose Wood?

Tools & Resources

• Applying LCA in Building Design is Easier than You Think – Part I

  This presentation defines Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and provides a discussion on how it can be used to create environmentally better buildings. It explains how the use of LCA is the only way to accurately assess the environmental attributes of materials. In addition, the presentation covers the benefits of using wood when designing a low environmental impact building.

• Building Green: Design a Sustainable Future with Wood

  Wood is the only major building material that grows naturally and is 100% renewable. Mass timber products have less embodied energy, are responsible for lower air and water pollution, and have a lighter carbon footprint than other common building materials. Hear why architects, engineers and developers are calling the 21st century the age of wood.

• Building Materials Matter - Continuing Education

  From an environmental perspective, it is widely known that buildings matter. Buildings consume nearly half the energy produced in the United States, use three-quarters of the electricity and account for nearly half of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The magnitude of their effects is the driving force behind many initiatives to improve tomorrow’s structures—from energy regulations and government procurement policies, to green building rating systems and programs such as the Architecture 2030 Challenge. The focus on energy efficiency, in particular, has led to widespread improvements, so much so that many designers are now giving greater attention to the impacts of structural building materials.

• Cost Advantages of Building Wood Structures

  Wood offers advantages in terms of material, construction and environmental costs. Wood is easy to use, fast to erect and workers can quickly learn wood construction techniques. In addition, when considered over its lifetime, wood performs better than alternative materials in terms of embodied energy, air and water pollution, and carbon footprint. In this video, hear from experts why wood is the building material of choice for both cost and quality.

• Forte` - Creating the World's Tallest CLT Apartment Building

  Daryl Patterson shares the process and key insights gained when designing the world's tallest cross-laminated timber apartment building. The building has 10 floors, is 32.17 meters tall and consists of 23 apartments. The Forte` saved 1,451 tons of carbon, by choosing to design with wood over steel or concrete.

• Materials Matter - Construction Materials and their Environmental Costs

  This presentation will show how the life cycle assessment makes it easier for architects to incorporate environmental considerations into their building material selection. It will discuss the life cycle impacts of wood, concrete and steel and demonstrate that over its life cycle, wood is better for the environment than steel or concrete in terms of embodied energy, air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, this presentation will highlight the advances each industry is making toward sustainability.

• Think Wood - A Renewable and Green Building Choice

  Wood is a renewable resource. In just 60 seconds, U.S. and Canadian forests can grow 17,210 cubic feet of wood—enough to construct a 50,000-square-foot building—and US timberland growth has increased by 51% since 1953. Wood also plays a significant role in the modern economy. Use of forest products in the US supports more than 1 million direct jobs and contributes more than $100 billion to the US Gross Domestic Product.

• Why we should build wooden skyscrapers

  Building a skyscraper? Forget about steel and concrete, says architect Michael Green, and build it out of ... wood. As he details in this intriguing talk, it's not only possible to build safe wooden structures up to 30 stories tall (and, he hopes, higher), it's necessary.

• Wood Reduces the Environmental Impact of Buildings

  When evaluating building materials, it is important to consider their environmental impact across their life cycle. This video highlights how wood products have less embodied energy, are responsible for lower air and water pollution, and have a lighter carbon footprint than other commonly used building materials. Visit Think Wood's website to learn how wood delivers more and has a lower cost to the environment.