The wood and the people
For centuries, wood has occupied a central place in human activity thanks to its many properties, ecology, strength, durability, versatility, etc.., Characteristics that have positioned it as an outstanding material on its application for the rehabilitation and reform. But in addition to its structural characteristics, the wood is an excellent partner for the well-being and the environment.
As proved by the study carried out by the project 'Living with Wood "in collaboration with the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV), wood environments improve the quality of life and health, and have beneficial effects on growth and state of mind.
According to this study, wood is an excellent acoustic insulation material due to its ability to reduce the reverberation time, which is why it is a material widely used for acoustic correction. This property of the wood can benefit our health, since with less reverb, you get a continuous, uninterrupted sleep, improving its quality and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.
Wood constitutes a good thermal insulator due to its microscopic structure characterized by the abundance of hollow cells which results in a low thermal conductivity, so that the wood protects against cold and heat, and sudden changes of temperature, contributing also to the psychomotor development of healthy children. The wood absorbs blows, reducing the risk of injury or fractures that can have serious consequences for human health.
The warm and natural texture of wood influences the mood of the people, creating warm atmospheres, natural and comfortable, that contribute to improve people's emotional state.
To bet on wood is to bet on ecology. To take care of our material environment, renewable, recyclable and natural, without polluting waste. To manage our forests in a sensible manner. And above all, to ensure sustainable development through the positive effects that an appropriate control entails.
CONFEMADERA is leading the effort to LIVE and BUILD WITH WOOD, reflecting the interests of Spanish companies in the promotion of awareness and use of wood in all areas.
The wood and the environment
If we try to find a versatile, sustainable, renewable, lightweight, durable and recyclable material, which does not pollute and is effective against climate change, we can only be talking about wood.
How does wood combat the climate change?
There are two ways to reduce CO2 from the atmosphere: by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, or by sequestrating and storing the CO2.
Wood has the ability to do both.
Through the photosynthesis, the trees of a forest can capture CO2 and store large quantities in wood. In every cubic meter of wood are trapped around some 0.9 t of CO2. Growing trees absorb more CO2 than mature trees, which through its death and decomposition return most of the CO2 to the atmosphere. However, if the use is appropriate, the CO2 stored in the tree is stored throughout the life of the resulting wood product.
In every cubic meter of wood are stored about 0.9 t of CO2.
Moreover, the transformation of the wood is highly energy efficient, so that the products obtained have a negligible carbon footprint, unlike other materials that may have similar uses and applications such as steel, aluminum, concrete or plastics, which production requires larger amounts of energy.
By providing excellent thermal insulation, in addition to other natural intrinsic characteristics that improve the health and comfort of people, the use of wood helps to save energy over the lifetime of a building, and therefore to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
The wood has a closed life cycle. At the end of its useful life it can have other uses or be recycled, for example, for the production of energy by burning, closing the life cycle of wood. The energy produced from combustion, is still efficiently stored solar energy, and its emissions of CO2 will not be higher than the amount previously stored, that is, burning wood has carbon neutral effect. In fact, the timber industry obtains by this means up to a 75% of the energy used in the production and transformation processes.
The timber industry in Spain is aware of its requirements, and has an interest in having sufficient resources to maintain its business, a fact that explains its commitment for a sustainable forest management which ensures the future of the forests. A productive forest is a more efficient carbon sink than a forest on its natural state. Younger trees, with vigorous growth, absorb more CO2 than mature trees, thus, consuming wood products helps slow climate change.
To bet for wood is to go for the ecology, to take care of our material environment, renewable, recyclable and natural, without polluting waste, to manage our forests in a sensible manner, and above all, to ensure sustainable development through the positive effects that an appropriate control entails.