THE AFTERMATH OF COP26 – CHOOSE TIMBER

Wood is now the centre piece of the global strategy for tackling global warming and carbon emissions, following on from COP 26.

Deforestation is to be halted and new forests are to be planted, a major commitment by all countries.

We will all remember being taught about the process of photosynthesis at school where this process converts carbon from the atmosphere into nutrients for it to grow and then throws out oxygen as the by product. Forests are the lungs of the Earth.

The spent carbon remains in the new wood of the tree and is trapped there for the lifetime of the tree or indeed anything that is made from the use of its timber, it is known as a carbon sink.

Not surprising then that the consumer armed with this information is choosing timber for their houses and products within them.

Modern Timber Windows and doors can now last for over 65 years as evidenced from the studies carried out by Herriot Watt University and the Industry can now offer long lasting external paint systems that carry a warranty of 12 years.

The products are made using engineered timber components where 95% of the material is used as the initial waste is recycled at the source of extraction. As the components are made from cross sectioned laminated pieces there is little chance of movement or distortion which used to be a feature of wood windows.

The New Window Company based at Frieston Heath near Grantham has extensive modern showrooms and will be pleased to discuss customer’s needs. We are exclusive distributors in this region for Timber Windows.com

Double glazing is now a standard feature of Timber Windows and the Heritage market where listed buildings feature can now be catered for with ultra slim double-glazing units.

As all products are made bespoke to customers’ requirements virtually every size and design can be met. So, period features from the classic years of Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian can be matched to comply with the requirements of the local planning guidelines.

The embodied carbon is a key measurement of completed buildings and covers all the processes and products used in construction. We can all measure our own carbon footprint and suggest many do already. These can add up to the target of zero carbon set by our government by 2030 as will the conversion of heating boilers and other methods of power consumption from fossil fuels to green energy whether wind, solar or heat exchange.

Timber Development UK have just launched the first technical paper to how to account for embodied carbon in timber construction by rigorously applying the British Standards.

Timber is a natural material and the only raw material left on earth that can be renewed and replaced. New forests for commercial conversion are now being planted at increased rates across the world so that we should never have to worry about supply issues.

Would you like to choose timber for your home? Contact us for a no obligation quote or visit our projects page for ideas and inspiration. 

Want to know more about timber? See our materials page or watch our owner and chairman, Roy Wakeman OBE, answer some of our frequently asked questions.