Instead of making building materials from resources that are only available in limited quantities on this planet, we can literally “grow” our buildings in the forest ????
A tree binds large amounts of CO2 (approx. 900 kg / m3) during its entire lifespan. A tree also produces oxygen – which most living creatures need for breathing. Also Homo Sapiens … When we use WOOD as a building material, we take this natural material out of its natural life cycle and thus extend the “storage effect” of the wood (which would otherwise rot and thus return the stored CO2 to the natural cycle and into the atmosphere ). This presupposes that we create something lasting, something beautiful, something with a high practical value from it. And it also assumes that we do not “poison” the WOOD material with substances in order to “refine” or further process the product – because then the material is difficult or impossible to recycle. In addition, care must be taken to ensure that this is done without spending a lot of energy and money (paint, glue, foam, impregnation, etc.). In other words, we should use WOOD materials as “pure” and simple as possible.
There are many possible uses: load-bearing structures (beams, beams, supports, solid wood panels and panels), insulation materials (cellulose, wood fiber insulation such as panels or bulk goods), furniture and works of art.
At the same time – and it is a prerequisite for maintaining this “life cycle” – at least one tree must grow back for every tree that is removed from the forest. If it doesn’t happen by itself, we need to help plant trees. So if you’re building with wood, why not plant a few trees too?
This “principle” for the life cycles of nature was already described by Hans Carl von Carlowitz (1645-1714), employed by the government of the Kingdom Saxony, who was responsible for mining and thus also for the forests. With Sylviculturaoeconomica (natural instructions for cultivating wild trees, 1713) he wrote the first complete work on “sustainable” forestry and is considered to be the main creator of the forestry concept of sustainability. The necessity of such a way of thinking arose due to large-scale deforestation in Central Europe for mining (salt, ores)!
Therefore: Do not remove more trees from the forest than grow back in the forest!
Remember how wonderful and unique WOOD material is … it is produced by a plant that binds CO2, produces oxygen, is a source of many medicines, produces fruits and vegetables that give us rest, cooling, shade, a huge number of plants and provides animals with a habitat (biodiversity). And then WOOD can also be transformed into a building or piece of furniture that “lives” for many decades. If a few constructive principles are taken into account, possibly several hundred years! In addition, WOOD is the only building material that is both statically load-bearing and heat-insulating at the same time!
Link to TreFokus`video about WOOD som building material (with grateful thanks to TreFokus/Aasmund Bunkholt):