There is no doubt the conversation on climate change is driving transformation in the building and construction industry. Questions are being asked about the environmental impact of some building materials, and sustainable choices are becoming a must-have.
Sustainability is now a standard consideration when it comes to quality design and construction – and we think it’s about time. It is the conversation the industry needs to have.
NICCO’s commitment to the environment is just one reason we only produce timber windows and doors. We know responsibly sourced timber is the best option for anyone concerned with global warming or other environmental issues, as it far eclipses the environmental credentials of other materials.
The low-carbon option
According to environmental organisation Planet Ark, wood is a low-carbon option for building – it is renewable, it stores carbon for the long-term, and it has a lower embodied energy than many other building materials.
This is why the environmental credentials of timber can also help a building achieve green-star accreditation, especially when used in conjunction with quality water-based polyurethanes, paints and adhesives.
The number of carbon emissions avoided during timber construction and the amount of carbon stored in a building further enhances the green credentials of any timber-based project.
Natural insulation
Timber frames use much less fossil fuel in their production than either aluminium or PVC, while wood is a natural thermal insulator thanks to the air pockets within its cellular structure.
This natural insulation means less energy is required within a completed building, which, in turn, reduces costs and future demands on energy usage. It can even be part of a solution for meeting Passive House design standards, which measure the rate of internal thermal comfort without the need for additional recirculation of air.
Reducing greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, have been linked to climate change. These gases trap heat within the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Timber, however, stores carbon and prevents it from reaching the atmosphere.
As part of its research, the NSW Department of Primary Industry has looked at the issue of forest, timber and climate change, observing forests and forest products play avital role in reducing greenhouse gases.
A 2008 report by the department explains timber and other wood products store the carbon dioxide they absorbed when they were growing trees. The carbon stored in the timber will not be released even when a tree has been harvested and processed into timber products. Conversely, plastics and metals actually produce greenhouse gases during their manufacture. Even the process of extracting some raw materials from the ground, such as bauxite for aluminium, results in greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainably sourced timbers
While timber is a great eco-choice, it’s important to note that not all timber is the same when it comes to sustainability – and care needs to be taken when selecting wood to ensure it has been sourced in a responsible and sustainable way. It’s essential to check the credentials of any timber sourced during the building process.
At NICCO, we use FSC Certified timber in our windows and doors, as well as Accoya, a natural timber product sourced from fast-growing, abundantly available, sustainably certified forests.
Accoya wood offers an alternative to slow growing and often unsustainable hardwoods, as well as many other carbon-intensive and depleting materials such as plastics, aluminium and concrete.
Rethinking your material choices?
NICCO has been designing and manufacturing beautiful and sustainably sourced timber windows and doors for over 20 years. Contact us to see how timber windows and doors can assist in reducing the carbon footprint of your next building project. The planet will thank you.
Image credits
Architecture: BVN
Build: CDC Construction Group
Photography: Simon Wood Photography
Location: Marrickville Library & Pavilion
