A Natural Choice

How Wood Contributes to Sustainability's Triple Bottom Line
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Sponsored by reThink Wood

End of Life. According to the U.S. EPA, approximately 170 million tons of building-related construction and demolition (C&D) materials were generated in the U.S. in 2003, an increase of 25 percent since 1996. Of this, 39 percent came from residential sources, including new construction, renovation and demolition, and 61 percent came from non-residential sources. Although data on the recovery of materials is limited, the EPA estimates that 52 percent of building-related C&D materials were discarded in 2003—a statistic that highlights the need for ongoing attention to environmentally sound strategies for a material's end of life.11

For Avalon Bay Communities, which developed the Avalon Anaheim Stadium project, podium structures represent approximately 25 percent of projects nationwide and 55 percent in Southern California.

Photo courtesy of Withee Malcolm Architects © Arden Photography

Recycling and reuse are encouraged for all building materials and sanctioned by various green building rating systems. But the first step in any recycling or reuse program is effective material recovery. Wood recovery is improving, with a rapid growth in the number of companies processing recovered wood and matching salvaged timber with designers' needs. According to a report by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, wood product manufacturers capture almost all of their wood waste. However, wood recovery from the municipal waste stream (MWS) and C&D sources are less effective. In 2010, 15.9 million tons of wood waste were generated by the MWS and only 15 percent was recovered (not counting recovery for energy combustion).12

Construction wood waste has good potential for recovery improvement because it is generally clean and easy to separate. While 27 percent is already recovered, burned or not usable, some 73 percent of this wood is available for salvage. Demolition waste is more difficult as it is highly mixed and possibly contaminated with other materials. Only an estimated 41 percent of demolition wood waste is available for recapture with standard demolition processes, which do not lend themselves to cost-effective retrieval. One solution is deconstruction, which selectively dismantles a building in order to carefully remove re-usable or recyclable parts. Wood can be reclaimed from de-commissioned buildings and directly reused, a niche market that is increasing due to strong interest in salvaged large-dimension timbers. Also, there is a large and relatively untapped store of lumber in the aging North American housing stock. Many jurisdictions have already begun to determine options to reduce waste, and are viewing wood waste reduction programs as critical to their overall waste management solution.

Wood and Social Goals

Wood is a material that exudes warmth and natural beauty, and can have a beneficial affect on building users. Biophilia, a term created by German psychologist Erich Fromm, relates to the instinctive bond that exists between humans and other living systems and helps explain how wood contributes to a socially positive experience. People respond emotionally to wood; they are attracted to its visual variety and natural expressiveness.

A recent study at the University of British Columbia and FPInnovations found that the visual presence of wood in a room lowers sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation in occupants, further establishing the positive link between wood and human health.13 Through SNS activation, human bodies prepare themselves to deal with stress, increasing blood pressure and heart rate while inhibiting digestion, recovery and repair functions to deal with immediate threats. While necessary in the short term, prolonged SNS activation negatively impacts the body. The study supports wood's value in evidence-based design, a field that promotes health, increased productivity and well-being based on scientifically credible evidence, and is being increasingly adopted by the healthcare industry.

Healthcare architects have been at the forefront of this effort, exploring the physiological benefits of good design on patient recovery and the well-being of staff and visitors. Among the results, an increasing number of healthcare facilities are making use of natural daylight, views of nature, and exposed wood to create a warm, natural aesthetic that supports their healing objectives.14

Wood is often used in healthcare centers because of its connection to nature.

Photo courtesy of TWP Architecture © Curtis Waltz

At the Herrington Recovery Center for alcohol and chemical dependency, architects complemented the lakeside setting with natural cedar and stained wood both inside and out. Wood ceilings and soffits in the recreation room and entrances to sleeping rooms brought warmth to the space, helping patients feel more comfortable. Exposed glued laminated timber (glulam) beams allowed for soaring ceilings and clerestory windows provided natural light. Wood floor systems created a forgiving surface underneath. "It's amazing how well this project has been received—by patients, by the surrounding community and by the healthcare and design communities," says architect John Curran, ALA, Senior Vice President for TWP Architecture, noting that wood helped create an environment in which patients felt more at home.

 

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Originally published in GreenSource
Originally published in November 2013

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