Wood frame construction is been around for pretty much as long as human beings have been around. Wood is a natural material which is strong, long lasting and abundant in many areas of the world. There are buildings made of wood that have lasted for hundreds of years. In Norway, the Urnes Stave Church has been around since the year 1150 A.D. Wooden buildings when properly maintained are enduring contributions to our society and are also a long-term solution towards sequestering carbon and fighting climate change.
Wooden building still exist dating back as far as 1150 A.D
Wood Frame Construction in Modern Times
It is for these reasons and more that Dr. Rob Dumont chose to build his home in Saskatoon Saskatchewan with a double wall wood framed design. In 1992 when this house was built it was the best insulated, and one of the most energy efficient buildings in the world (it still is). Thus the environmental benefits of this home were twofold. As trees grow they sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it into their wooden structure. By sequestering approximately 1 ton of CO2 for every cubic meter of wood used in construction, the sequestered carbon dioxide stays out of the atmosphere which helps fight climate change. Wood buildings such as Dumont’s that are very well insulated not only sequester carbon from the atmosphere but they also prevent the need for burning fossil fuels to keep the home comfortable.
With urbanization becoming more prevalent, the need to build taller buildings in cities becomes more obvious. In this informative TED talk, Michael Green – an architect from Vancouver – discusses how we can use a new method of wood frame construction to not only fight climate change but to house the world’s people as they move into cities.
To learn more about ways to save energy and fight climate change check out www.HowToFutureProofYourHome.com