New Clean Energy Finance Corporation research shows expanding timber use in construction will significantly cut carbon emissions in the building and construction sector, according to the Australian Forest Products Association. Source: Timberbiz
The CEFC’s Australian buildings and infrastructure: Opportunities for cutting embodied carbon report shows that the more engineered timber used in new office and mixed-use buildings, the better its embodied carbon reduction.
“This CEFC report reinforces that Australia can do more to reduce its carbon emissions in the built environment and should build more medium and high-rise buildings from engineered timber,” AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said.
The report provides real case studies showing that building with timber reduces embodied carbon up to 75%. Its modelling also shows that replacing 50% of a building’s traditional steel and concrete materials with engineered timber would result in an 11% reduction in the building’s embodied carbon.
“This CEFC report reinforces that Australia should build more medium and high-rise buildings from engineered timber. In some cases, it’s possible to replace up to 60% of steel with engineered timber in new buildings. It’s exciting analysis that points to the need for greater supply,” Mr Hampton said.
“The federal and state governments should recognise the climate change mitigation benefits of Aussie timber and provide policies that incentivise greener buildings that maximise timber use.
“The report’s findings underscore the urgent need for Australia to grow our timber plantation estate to ensure that we have enough wood to meet our future housing and building needs,” he said.
