Wood Processors Support Carbon Cost

Wood Processors Association

6 August 2007

Wood Processors Support Carbon Cost in Building Code

The Wood Processors Association strongly supports the prospective inclusion of embedded energy use in the building code, as announced today by the Government.

“Embodied energy is a critical element of a building product’s environmental footprint – factoring it into the Building Code is a very positive initiative,” says Wood Processors Association Chairman Dave Anderson.

The production of timber building materials from trees and forests results in much lower carbon emissions than the manufacture of other materials such as steel, concrete or aluminum. In addition, planted forests act as a crucial carbon sink in the fight against climate change.

“New Zealand has an abundant homegrown timber product which takes carbon out of the atmosphere during its growth phase and stores that carbon for the life of the building. There is a great opportunity for New Zealand to use Radiata pine and Douglas fir products right across our building industry” says Anderson.

The use of wood is not just limited to single story buildings. The Wood Processors Association is currently working with Canterbury University to develop building systems that will increase the use of New Zealand grown timber in multi-storey and wide span constructions, such as those seen in warehouses or office blocks. This work dovetails with the recent Government announcement that all new Government buildings up to four storeys will need to consider a wood design option.

“Wood is a tremendously versatile product and the opportunities for greater use of wood products in our buildings are huge.”

Given wood’s advantage in embodied energy efficiency, as well as the carbon sink qualities of planted forests, wood is certainly the product for a climate change conscious world,” says Anderson.

ENDS

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