07/18/2022
๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐
While there can be a major environmental impact on choosing wood over other materials if it is not sustainably sourced , there are numerous reasons why ๐พ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ are an eco-friendly option. From retaining heat to having a positive effect on our mental health, there are many benefits to bringing wood into your home.
๐. ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ
Wood is known to be one of the most naturally renewable energy sources, which means it will have less of an impact on the environment compared to other materials. According to the British Woodworking Federation, over 90 per cent of the wood we use in the UK is from forests in Europe, which are growing by 661,000 hectares each year. This shows that itโs a readily-available resource which weโre not going to run out of anytime soon.
๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐
A wide variety of factors affect how long a wooden product lasts, including the type of wood, the location of the product (interior or exterior environments) and the treatment that has been applied to it. Generally, wood is lightweight, but also strong and durable. As Iain Smith, managing director of A Wood Idea puts it: โWhen treated correctly, hardwood doors and floors, for instance, can last longer than a lifetime โ some over 100 years. The longer wood lasts, the less energy is used on the production of new products, which in turn makes it better for the environment.โ
๐. ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐
With wood lasting a lifetime, itโs the ideal material for recycling. โUsing recycled wood keeps the carbon footprint very low and means limiting the use of freshly-milled timber and negating importing costs, while preserving our natural timber resources for future use,โ says Ruth Adams, co-founder of reclaimed furniture company Rust Collections. โReusing salvaged wood means less materials being sent to landfill or being burned, both of which pollute the environment. And, of course, the other benefit is that reclaimed wood furniture is full of character and raw, rustic charm that only time-worn timber can provide.โ
๐. ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฑ๐ข๐๐
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which lowers the overall carbon footprint of wood. As a 'carbon store', once wood absorbs CO2, it is stored there and remains out of the atmosphere. Iain McIlwee, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation, says: โWood is the only truly sustainable building material and for every cubic metre of wood used in construction, approximately one tonne of carbon dioxide is saved. Choosing wood can really make a difference when considering carbon storage. For example, through research conducted by the Wood Window Alliance, we know that 160kg of CO2 is saved in every wood window chosen instead of PVCu.โ
๐. ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ญ
โThe cellular makeup of wood means that it naturally retains heat more effectively than other materials โ in fact, it holds seven times more heat than ceramic tiles,โ says A Wood Ideaโs Iain Smith. Air chambers within the wood itself absorb heat and create a naturally warmer home that requires less energy to heat it, which is kinder to the environment.
๐. ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐
There is very little waste when wooden products are made, whether itโs floorboards, doors or windows, and any residual chippings can be burned as an energy source or used as sawdust during manufacture. The Forestry Commission says: 'There is no waste in timber production. For example, offcuts and by-products from wood processing industries like furniture-making can be used to create chipboard and generate renewable heat and energy.' The waste that is produced is 100 per cent biodegradable, meaning that it eventually decomposes and breaks down back into earth, making it better for the environment.
๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก
Research has shown that reducing the amount of man-made materials and introducing natural alternatives, such as wood, lowers stress and anxiety levels when you're at home. Marjut Wallenius, a doctor of psychology at the University of Tampere, says: โWood has psychological effects on people and a similar stress-reducing effect to nature.โ She adds that studies carried out so far have revealed that wood has a calming effect: 'This is based on the positive emotional experience that wood causes, such as proximity to nature, warmth, homeliness and a relaxing effect.'
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com
