| Log Homes and Timber Frame Homes may have the | | | | greenhouse gases than wood. The study also |
| lowest carbon footprint of any other type of | | | | reported that the wood structures out-performed |
| construction. A carbon footprint is the measurement | | | | the steel and concrete houses in energy use and the |
| of carbon dioxide released as a result of using a | | | | impact on air and water quality. |
| particular product or other human activity. Carbon | | | | Wood walls are typically framed or solid. |
| dioxide is the main greenhouse gas released into the | | | | Conventionally framed walls use a combination a |
| atmosphere and major contributor to global warming. | | | | several materials including processed wood products |
| A report prepared by the Edinburgh Center for | | | | such as plywood or other laminated wood products, |
| Carbon Management (ECCM) compared the carbon | | | | fiberglass insulation, exterior siding, interior sheetrock |
| dioxide footprints of three structures and the | | | | and some type of wall covering. Solid wood walls |
| benefits when more timber was introduced into the | | | | using logs or timbers have basically one product - the |
| construction. The results were astounding. ECCM | | | | log or timber. The energy consumed and the CO2 |
| estimated that there could be up to an 88% | | | | produced in the production of logs and timbers is a |
| reduction of greenhouse gases by using log or timber | | | | fraction compared to the production of all the various |
| structural elements wherever possible rather than | | | | materials in a conventionally framed wall. |
| other conventional building materials. The reduction of | | | | Consumers are much more aware the environmental |
| greenhouse gases was achieved by replacing | | | | impact of using different materials and are being |
| materials high energy, high CO2 production values, | | | | increasing sensitive to the hazards of exposure to |
| such as steel and concrete, with solid wood. The | | | | chemically processed materials. Logs and timbers are |
| report states that the production of steel and | | | | 100% natural. As a natural product, they do not emit |
| concrete materials accounts for 10% of the total | | | | VOCs or other pollutants into the outdoor or indoor |
| global emissions of greenhouse gases. These | | | | space. Trees are produced from soil, water and air |
| materials have a high CO2 output created during the | | | | combined with the energy from the sun, in a |
| extraction of raw materials, refining, processing and | | | | miraculous process of photosynthesis. Ecologically and |
| manufacturing of the finished product. As reported in | | | | environmentally, solid wood is the only building |
| a study published by the Royal Australian Institute of | | | | product that is renewable, biodegradable, recyclable, |
| Architects, the energy consumed to process a tree | | | | energy efficient and extremely beautiful. |
| into a finished sawn timber is about one-tenth of | | | | Sustained and plantation forest growth actually |
| steel production. | | | | reduces greenhouse gases by consuming CO2 out of |
| In another report prepared by The Consortium for | | | | the atmosphere while the trees are growing. Political |
| Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) | | | | pressure to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, such as |
| compared four different structure using different wall | | | | the Kyoto Protocol, is sure to continue and it will |
| systems - two woods, one concrete and one steel. | | | | become increasingly important to find solution. The |
| The report found that the steel wall system | | | | use of solid wood construction such as log homes |
| generated 33% more greenhouses gases than wood | | | | and timber homes can make a positive contribution. |
| and the concrete wall generated 80% more | | | | |