There’s a tangible increase in the volume of new homes and commercial buildings being designed and built in structural timber.
From award winning state of the art buildings to major house builders moving to offsite timber manufacturing, now is the time to reap the benefits of structural timber to deliver low carbon, sustainable buildings quickly. Find out what the market is saying.
There’s a tangible increase in the volume of new homes and commercial buildings being designed and built in structural timber.
From award winning state of the art buildings to major house builders moving to offsite timber manufacturing, now is the time to reap the benefits of structural timber to deliver low carbon, sustainable buildings quickly. Find out what the market is saying.
There is little doubt that we need to change how we operate to reduce our impact on global warming. A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is at the core of the Government’s Climate Change Act to achieve that.
Th Climate Change Act sets out a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels by 2050. Achieving that target achieves net zero, thereby reducing climate change.
In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. The target requires the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, compared with its previous target of an 80% reduction from 1990 levels. The UK has already reduced its emissions by 42%, whilst growing the economy by 72% and putting clean growth at the heart of its modern Industrial Strategy.
The construction industry is responsible for 40% of all CO2 emissions. In 2023, the Government launched the Net Zero Growth Plan, an update to the original Net Zero Strategy that sets out commitments and plans to address the decarbonisation of homes along with power, industry, and transport. The journey to Net Zero begins with better energy performance in better performing buildings.
Improving energy efficiency to meet Net Zero, can be achieved through adopting a Fabric-First approach, ensuring an efficient way to achieving Building Regulations and Part L, while meeting the needs of homeowners and building occupants. Fabric-First is the principle of optimising the insulation levels within the walls and roofs of a building, creating a fully enclosed building envelope with a 35% improvement in energy efficiency. Embracing a Fabric-First approach reduces dependency on other heating technologies, making homes and buildings easier to keep warm in winter and cool in summer. These better performing buildings provide the opportunity for lower cost while reduced energy bills create better living and working environments for end users. Structural timber, designed and manufactured as a Fabric First principle, is the easiest way to meeting changing regulations, a fit and forget solution, delivered with ease.
As part of the UK’s commitment to become Net Zero by 2050, a new Future Homes Standard will be introduced in 2025. Homes built to this new standard are anticipated to have 75% to 80% less carbon emissions than those currently built.
The aim of the new regulations is to focus on energy efficiency while future proofing buildings for new low carbon heating technologies. Structural timber plays a key role in creating a robust energy efficient building envelope, delivering high thermal insulation while contributing significantly to reduced carbon, a reliable solution to increasing and changing regulations.
Building with structural timber, the most sustainable low carbon building material, offers superior air tightness, excellence in quality through offsite manufacture and performance values to meet current and upcoming building regulations.
DEFRA and MHCLG in partnership with a number of industry bodies including the Structural Timber Association has launched the Government backed Timber in Construction Roadmap. Developed over two years, it is designed to guide the construction industry through the opportunities to build more in timber, realising the benefits of the most sustainable building material. Seven priority themes have been identified for both Government and industry to progress including increasing the sustainable supply of timber, promoting innovation, increasing collaboration with insurers, lenders, and warranty providers, and developing skills and capacity.
Interested in learning more about using structural timber or need details on specific manufacturers? Reach out —we’ll be happy to help.