Building with wood is considered more sustainable compared to other building materials for several reasons:
- Renewability: Wood is a renewable resource. Sustainable forest management allows wood to be harvested in a controlled and long-term cycle. New trees can be planted to replace the resources consumed. In comparison, non-renewable materials such as concrete and steel are limited and require large amounts of energy and resources to extract. That is why we cooperate with OneTreePlanted. For every 1000 francs you pay for your new home, we plant 1 new tree with OneTreePlanted (so for a purchase price of CHF 1,400,000 we plant 1,400 trees!).
- Low energy consumption: The processing of wood generally requires less energy than the production of concrete, steel or other building materials. Wood extraction and processing require fewer industrial processes and thus less energy. This helps to reduce CO2 emissions and the ecological footprint.
- Carbon storage: Wood is a natural carbon store. During growth, a tree absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and stores it in its wood. When wood is used for construction, the carbon remains sequestered in the wood and is not released as a greenhouse gas. As a result, wood helps to reduce the carbon content in the atmosphere.
- Less waste: Compared to other building materials, the construction process with wood generates less waste. Wood waste can be reused or recycled. Additionally, wood can biodegrade at the end of its life, while other materials such as concrete and plastics are often not biodegradable and pollute landfills.
- Energy efficiency: wood is an excellent insulator, which means that it helps to retain heat and reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling. Wood structures can create more energy-efficient buildings that reduce energy demand and improve comfort.
It is important to note that sustainability depends not only on the building material, but also on the way the building is designed, built and used. Comprehensive sustainable construction requires consideration of multiple factors, including energy efficiency, material provenance, recyclability, and building use.