Building Codes
Innovative new wood products and building systems are coming into the marketplace that will allow designers, engineers and builders to expand the quantity and range of wood products used in buildings. Nationally, more than 70 percent of commercial buildings that could be built with wood according to local and state buildings codes are built with other materials such as steel or masonry. Building with wood is not limited to a cabin in the woods, or a single family home. The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) has provisions for wood in nearly all commercial building use groups up to 18 stories! Nevertheless, misconceptions about building code limitations of wood construction for commercial buildings still exist. The biggest deterrent to using wood is because i) the building owner (agency) does not ask for, nor is led to a choice of wood as a construction material because they are unaware of the choice, and ii) designers are unaware of the rules detailing how or when wood can be used successfully.
Economics
Sustainable communities in our rural areas depend on both the economic return from harvesting timber as well as having sawmill and other wood dependent industries operating to provide jobs, taxes, and other revenues. By promoting the use of locally grown wood products and biomass in our states, we have the potential to impact industry development and increase landowner income from growing trees. Not only is wood the better choice for sustainability, but it is also costs less! National studies of building costs have shown that when wood is used instead of steel and concrete, costs per square foot are reduced by $40 to $60 per square foot.
Environment
By 2040, 75% of all people (worldwide) will live in cities increasing demand for housing in these areas. However, it is estimated that steel and concrete are responsible for approximately 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Using wood for building materials instead of steel and concrete will dramatically lower these greenhouse gas emissions from construction and operation of the buildings. Using wood as a building material is not only the more sustainable material to use, but choosing wood can decrease these emissions from buildings, and contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment. Therefore, wood buildings can significantly impact climate change in the long term.
Forest Health & Renewability
In the southeastern United States, the amount of forests and subsequently, the amount of wood have grown considerably over the last 40 years. Each year, more wood is produced than is harvested. However, the markets for wood have not kept pace with the increasing wood resource base. 90% of all forestland in the South is privately owned, and therefore these forestlands which provide ecosystem services to their communities and a natural resource for the country are managed by these individuals. Managing forestland costs money, money that is not recouped until the land is harvested. If there are not enough markets to sell the wood they produce, or insufficient prices to help them make money, then landowners will be less motivated to re-plant. The time has come to begin insisting on the use of wood and paper products in order to utilize these sustainable resources. Because only by harvesting our forests can we keep them healthy and provide economic opportunities for the landowners. Therefore, asking for wood and paper products to be used is important to helping to maintain healthy, sustainable forests.
Related Publications
-
Rethinking wood as a material of choice
Wood costs less, delivers more
-
Building materials matter
Life cycle view supports informed choices, contributes to sustainable design
-
Mass Timber
The next great disruption of construction, wood products industries
