Sustainability has become a common trend as a lot of sustainable solutions have emerged within the last years in many different areas. The main principle can be claimed as balancing the needs of our current generation without any negative impact on our future generations. In construction, however, sustainability does not receive as much attention as in other fields, which is why this paper will focus on the role of timber as a sustainable construction material.
The US housing market shows an increasing demand, which leads to the consumption of more construction material. The managed forest areas in the USA must be increased to cover the future needs and preserve wood as a sustainable material. An estimation of the required timber resources for a building will be examined not only to estimate the need of new building material in the future, but also the required forest stock.
The importance of timber will be shown by comparison to other building materials. Weighing the pros and cons of timber as a sustainable material compared to others, its implementation in the context of taller buildings and fire resistance will be discussed.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Resources and Market
- 3. Transportation of Timber
- 4. Comparison to other building materials
- 5. Estimation of Wood Usage
- 6. Conclusion
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper investigates the future usage of wood in the U.S. construction industry, focusing on the indicators that predict a change in the trend toward more sustainable building practices. The paper examines the fundamental influences, including the increasing demand for construction materials due to growth in the U.S. housing market.
- The sustainability of timber as a construction material.
- The role of forest management and resource availability.
- The transportation of timber and the importance of international trade.
- The comparison of timber to other building materials.
- The potential for prefabrication and other advancements in timber construction.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of sustainability in construction and defines timber as a truly sustainable material. It highlights the need for increased attention to sustainable construction methods using wood, particularly in the U.S. construction industry. The chapter also outlines the paper's focus on exploring the potential of timber as a sustainable material in the future.
- Chapter 2: Resources and Market: This chapter examines the U.S.'s wood resources and the current state of the construction market. It highlights the increasing demand for construction materials and the need for sustainable forest management to ensure the availability of timber in the long term. The chapter also discusses the importance of balancing the growth and deforestation rates to maintain the sustainability of timber as a resource.
- Chapter 3: Transportation of Timber: This chapter focuses on the unique aspects of timber transportation compared to other construction materials. It highlights the global nature of timber trade and the dependence of many countries on wood imports. The chapter also discusses the importance of considering the transportation costs and the environmental impacts associated with timber transport.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the following keywords: construction, environment, estimation, forest, resources, sustainability, timber, U.S., wood.
- Quote paper
- Sven Meyer (Author), 2018, The future usage of wood. Timber as a sustainable material in construction, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/453166
