Is Timber Good For The Environment?

By Author: Steven LaPolla
Total Articles: 6
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Is Timber Good for the Environment?There is a misconception that using wood for building and design purposes is actually damaging to the environment. It's simply not true - if the timber used in the creation of furniture or houses comes from a verifiable and sustainable source.Wood is one of the most recyclable materials in the world and when it finally comes to the end of it's life it can be used to generate power for many homes and industries in the form of Biomass Fuel which is a sustainable fuel type.Wood and the beautiful timber that comes from it is such a great material to work with and as such is easier to restore and refurbish than any other material. Plastic is just dangerous to the environment and metal requires a very specific kind of regeneration which can be very costly indeed leading to more and more strain on the already suffering environment.Sustainable Forests are the KeyGood companies source their timber from a well-known regeneration source or an environmentally friendly project that replants 10 trees for every one used for construction. This replanting allows for forests to regenerate and put new life ...
... back into a new area. In fact some projects now are planting as many as 50 trees for every one taken down.By using sustainable forests for timber usage these top companies ensure that there is no impact on the environment at all and are going a long way to protecting the world in which we live by using environmentally friendly sources.There is also another misconception that the wave of UPVC windows landing on properties all over the world are safe for the environment but they really are not safe at all. Timber Windows if protected and maintained for small prices every few years can last a lifetime and more and UPVC windows last 20 years if they're lucky.Then you have to fork out for new windows at huge expense to yourself and the environment as UPVC contains dangerous materials and is not in any way degradable such as wood can be.Don't forget about the cost of InsulationTimber is a natural insulator evident in many cooler climates where wood is the first choice in construction such as Scandinavia. Timber is very strong and much easier to repair and refurbish when compared to other materials and as already mentioned - timber can and will last a lifetime and if towards the end of it's life it starts to fail then a good restoration company can bring your windows back to life for a lower cost than replacing them with UPVC.There is a huge impact on the environment involved with heating costs and if you can protect your home better in the colder months then your lower bills will no only have a positive impact on your wallet but also the environment as well.So the next time someone asks whether timber is good for the environment you should now be armed with at the very least some of the main points that prove timber construction, if done right, is better for the environment than any other material.