Bharat SainiLast Updated on February 11, 2021 by Bharat Saini
Home construction and the manufacturing of home interiors and furniture are the biggest users of rare hardwood and exotic wood in manufacturing, but there is a distinct trend to move towards more eco-friendly building alternatives.
Wood is Still the Way To Go
In an age where the forests of the world are shrinking at an unprecedented rate, it has become increasingly important to know where your wood comes from. Hardwoods from illegal logging concerns in the Congo or the diminishing forests in Brazil are not the way to save the planet and deal with carbon emissions. Yet, local, ethically sourced, and well-treated wood is still the way to go in construction and manufacturing.
Wood is the only renewable construction material and requires a lot less energy to produce than steel, concrete, or bricks. The latter also produces more emissions, whereas a sustainably managed forest system is incredibly green. Increasing the amount of wood in a building’s construction is the key to making it more eco-friendly, but this must be the right wood.
Structural and Interior Design
Wood can be used in the actual construction if it has been professionally stress and strength tested. It can also be used in the exterior and interior manufacturing and design process for the cladding, the walls, ceilings, cabinets, and furniture. As aforementioned, if you want it to be green and eco-friendly, then use wood as much as possible.
Nobody wants to live in a home that resembles a sauna or Swiss ski lodge with a monotone mahogany or light pine everywhere, but if you mix and match, there are an interesting variety of options available. Using the full range of materials for the building will enable you to have structural plywood for your beams and trusses. Glossy white kitchen cabinets, a dark hardwood laminate floor, and some marine plywood for the exterior cladding. Finished off with modern designed beautiful birch or Austral plywood furniture. The aim is to increase the amount of wood in the structure itself and use it for the interior design.
Sustainably Harvested
Going green means it must be a proven source of sustainably harvested timber. Cabinet timbers working out of Melbourne have managed to achieve this, with an exterior, structural, and interior range of plywood that would surprise. They produce a wide range of cabinets, with finishes and colors that allow you to have wood throughout the home’s interior and exterior without even knowing it.
Storage space is always a huge issue when it comes to the interior design. Every home should maximize storage space options while ensuring there is as little wasted space as possible. Another important factor to remember is that while wood is eco-friendly, it’s important to think about the use of imported timbers, especially for kitchens and bedroom cabinets, and cupboards. The current trend for using local materials and preserving future hardwood supplies of threatened species has necessitated more local varieties.
Building with the right wood is positive for the planet. Using the right wood for cladding furniture and cabinets further adds to the eco-friendly nature of the building. Therefore, the top tip for eco-friendly building is to choose carefully and keep in mind that the right wood is still green.
