Green building experts use life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the environmental effects of building materials — from resource extraction, through manufacturing, transportation, construction, in-service use, demolition and disposal. LCA research shows that wood products have a very small environmental footprint compared to other structural materials.
For example the ATHENA Sustainable Materials Institute has developed a complex, scientific system and software program that provides a comparative assessment of building materials and their effects on the environment. The system allows design and building professionals to calculate the environmental impact of a home based on the materials used and the construction methods employed.
When the system is used to compare wood, steel and concrete, wood is the clear winner, producing:
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Less air pollution
- Less water pollution
- Fewer solid wastes
 |
|
STAGE 1 - Resource Extraction
Harvesting and removing the resources and transportation of the material. This includes the logging or mining required to retrieve the materials, the equipment used, the building of roads to transport the materials and reforestation efforts.
Why Wood?
Harvesting wood has been shown to be much less intrusive than the mining of raw materials for steel and concrete such as iron ore, coal and limestone. And advancements in technology have even improved upon the process. |
|
STAGE 2 - Manufacturing
Preparing the material for use and measuring the amount of energy needed for raw materials to be manufactured into building materials. This includes the cutting of the trees into the different sizes (2x4, 4x6, etc.), and manufacturing steel and concrete from ore and minerals.
Why Wood?
Compared to a wood 2x4, a steel stud requires 21 times more energy to produce and releases more than 15 times the sulfur dioxide. Producing concrete emits up to three times more carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons than manufacturing lumber. |
|
STAGE 3 - On-Site Construction
Building with the selected materials, including delivering of the materials to the distribution centers, home centers, or building sites and the actual construction of the home.
Why Wood?
Wood requires very little on-site energy or special machinery to construct. |
|
STAGE 4 - Occupancy/Maintenance
Living in the home continues to impact the environment, including the energy needed to heat and cool your home throughout the year.
Why Wood?
Wood is a 400 times better insulator than steel and eight times better than concrete. Using wood framing will insure that your house stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
|
|
STAGE 5 - Demolition
This stage assesses future impacts that are possible long after a home is lived in, including bio-degradability or reusability of materials during renovations or possible razing.
Why Wood?
Wood is a completely natural building material that's 100% biodegradable. Some wood is even recycled for use in engineered wood products. |
 |
STAGE 6 - Recycling/Reuse/Disposal
|
|
