THE CLIMATE CASE FOR USINGMOREWOOD NATURE VERSUS NURTURE It is still generally accepted that CO 2 emissions are the principle cause of climate change. Wood is nature’s own carbon sink: growing trees absorb CO 2 , then break it The production and processing of wood is also highly energy-efficient: every cubic metre of wood used as a substitute for other building materials reduces CO 2 emissions by, on average, 1.1 tonnes. It is thermally efficient, and even at the end of its life a wood product
down through photosynthesis, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere and storing the carbon. One cubic metre of living wood absorbs almost one tonne of CO 2 . Left to nature forests achieve a climax stage where the site is supporting its maximum fertility. At this stage new trees only grow as others fall from age or natural disaster. The dead and dying trees emit CO 2 from the stored carbon and, since growth is only matched by decay, there is no net increase in carbon storage. Harvesting trees as they mature allows the carbon to be stored throughout the life of the wood product, for example, every cubic metre of wood flooring contains 5kg of carbon. Furthermore, the market for wood provides an economic incentive to preserve and replant, particularly important in tropical regions where deforestation is frequently seen as a solution to providing energy or land. CHOOSE WOOD FOR THE SAKE OF THE PLANET Greater use of wood products will stimulate the expansion of the forests and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions: increasing the number of wooden houses in Europe by just 20% would produce sufficient CO 2 savings to account for around half of the reductions prescribed by the Kyoto Protocol! And Europe alone grows enough wood annually to build such a house every single second.
remains ecologically useful since it can be reused, recycled, or used as a carbon-neutral biomass energy substitute for fossil fuels. ENSURE THE WOOD YOU USE IS THE RIGHT WOOD A number of international, non-governmental organizations promote the responsible management of the world’s forests, principally the PEFC™ (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (administrator for the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products Program) and the FSC® (the Forest Stewardship Council®). In addition, a European Union Timber Regulation (EU995/2010) is now in place which makes it illegal to place illegally harvested timber and timber products on the European Union marketplace. Havwoods, of course, have their own, extremely stringent requirements as to the provenance and sustainability of any timber which bears the Havwoods name. So opt for wood since this is undeniably good for the environment – just always make sure that the wood you use is the right wood.
Look for FSC®, PEFC™ and Cradle to Cradle Certified™ products
PEFC/16-37-1417
info@havwoods.in | www.havwoods.in | T. 91 (0) 22 24938633
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