HOUSING FIT FOR A CLIMATE EMERGENCY: WHOLE LIFE CARBON

THINKINGEilidh ForsterTwitter: @eilidh_forster

INTRODUCTION

Committee on climate change recommendations

Timber frame housing on new builds by 2025 ­ How will increased timber demand be met?

Increased forest cover to 17%­ No clear plan, planting targets failing, no emphasis on commercial forestry

Important relationship

OBJECTIVES

Potential role of wood in climate change mitigation –important relationship between forestry and construction

Impact of building materials selection on the environment

How to make informed design choices

CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE+

1. Harvesting ensures continued C capture

2. Store C long-term plus

3. Avoid emissions from concrete & steel

70% of stored carbon is in building materials

Avoided emissions doubles benefits

Recycling prolongs C storage and increases avoided emissions

SUBSTITUTED MATERIALS = AVOIDED EMISSIONS

•Saving of 10,000 kg CO2 eq in typical semi-detached (20% of total embodied C footprint)

•For every kg of wood use you reduce the C footprint

•For every kg of concrete or steel avoided you reduce the C footprint

•Can we do more… cladding, windows, doorsBrick and block vs brick and timber frame

TERMINOLOGY

1. Embedded CC stored in the material

2. Biogenic Cemissions that originate from biological sources, such as plants, trees and soil

3. Embodied Cemissions released during production of a material/product

4. Operational Cemissions released during the use of a product throughout its life

MAKING INFORMED DESIGN CHOICES•Life cycle assessment (LCA)

•Early assessment ensures optimal design

•Affordable

•Achievable by non-experts (e.g. etoolLCD)

https://www.naturallywood.com/wood-design/life-cycle-assessment

POWER TO MAKE CHANGE

Construction sector is one of biggest consumer of timber = influence forestry

Materials selection can make significant impact• 70% of stored carbon is in building materials • Avoided emissions double the benefits of timber

THANK YOU

Eilidh Forster

Twitter: @eilidh_forster