As green building has evolved beyond its initial emphasis on energy efficiency, greater attention has been given to the choice of structural materials and the degree to which they influence a building’s environmental footprint. Increasingly, wood from sustainably managed forests is viewed as a responsible choice. This course will demonstrate how specifying wood can contribute to forest sustainability.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate the use of wood as a construction material in the context of long-term forest sustainability as well as attributes such as low embodied energy and light carbon footprint.
- Discuss forest sustainability measures such as biodiversity, soil and water quality, and harvest vs. net growth.
- Examine the concept that using wood in buildings provides an incentive to landowners to keep forested lands forested instead of converting them to uses such as urban development.
- Compare the carbon benefits of an unmanaged forest vs. a managed forest where timber is used for wood buildings