Using more wood and less concrete and steel in building and bridge construction would substantially reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption.

A new study led by Yale University found that forests can be conserved to prevent loss of biodiversity and maintain carbon storage capacity, while fossil fuel consumption is reduced.

Scientists from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES) and the University of Washington’s College of the Environment evaluated a range of scenarios, including leaving forests untouched, burning wood for energy, and using various solid wood products for construction.

The study found that increasing the wood harvest to the equivalent of 34% or more of annual wood growth would have profound and positive effects. These include:

• between 14% and 31% of global CO₂ emissions could be avoided by preventing emissions related to steel and concrete; by storing CO₂ in the cellulose and lignin of wood products; and other factors
• about 12% to 19% of annual global fossil fuel consumption would be saved including savings achieved because scrap wood and unsellable materials could be burned for energy, replacing fossil fuel consumption.

Wood-based construction consumes much less energy than concrete or steel construction. The manufacture of steel, concrete, and brick accounts for about 16% of global fossil fuel consumption. Through efficient harvesting and product use, more CO₂ is saved through the avoided emissions, materials, and wood energy than is lost from the harvested forest.

According to the scientists, reductions in fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions from construction will become increasingly critical as demand for new buildings, bridges and other infrastructure is expected to surge worldwide in the coming decades. Innovative construction techniques are now making wood even more effective in bridges and mid-rise apartment buildings.

 

(Source: Yale News)