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Building Innovation from Devastated Forests
Do you know what’s been fueling the forest fires in the West? One explanation involves beetle-kill pine, or trees that have been destroyed by an invasive beetle species. The beetles ravaged through forests leaving behind plenty of dead and dry trees–the perfect fuel for a fire.
Researchers at the University of Utah are working on a way to salvage these dead trees and put them to use in construction. They’re working with the company Euclid Timber Frames to create interlocking cross-laminated timber (ICLT), a building material that is just as sturdy as concrete and can last up to 200 years.
The trees are cut and layered with healthier lumber in a way that doesn’t require any adhesives or other pressing equipment. The planks lock together and are so strong that they can withstand hurricane-force winds.
The creaters of ICLT say that this method saves money, reduces the risk of wildfires by removing that dry wood from forests, and decreases carbon emissions.
However, it is very difficult to collect this wood from forests, as there often are not roads that can take people deep into the forest. The researchers say they are still working on evaluating whether the money saved by using this material offsets the cost of collecting it.
Do you have your own idea about how to make building materials more environmentally friendly? Let us know!
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On August 10th, 2012 at 12:26 am Cloud Lee Said:
Dear Sirs/Mdm
International Growth Pte Ltd is a timber trading company in Singapore. Our main client is in China. We import timber from America, Canada, New Zealand and Russia. Our core business focuses on providing import and export of lumbers, timbers and logs all over the world. Our turnover is USD200 million per year. As the demand is getting higher and higher, hence we are expanding our business to worldwide. And we are interested to set up a business relationship with your Company.
Currently we are importing the following timbers :
Item No. Names of Timbers
1 Cedar
2 Douglas fir
3 Eucalyptus
4 Fir/white fir/silver fir
5 Hemlock
6 Larch
7 Lumber
8 Pacific Silver Fir
9 Pinus sylvestris
10 Radiata Pine
11 Red Cedar
12 SPF Lumber
13 Spruce
14 White pine
We would like to know does your Company supply the above Wood Spices, and what other type of timbers and grades you are supplying other than the above mentioned. Kindly quote us a list on type of timbers, grades, sizes, quantities and prices that you can provide to us. We are able to take in full charter vessels or by containers.
Thank you and Best Regards
Cloud Lee
Manager
International Growth Pte Ltd
1 Raffles Place
#30-04
Singapore 048616
Tel : +65 6534 3776
Fax : +65 6536 3427
Email : cloudlee@igrowth.com.sg
On September 11th, 2012 at 3:55 am Use timber fencing Said:
Using such dead and waste material for use in construction is a wise thing to do. Wood if used in constructing building and homes will be beneficial to our environment also due to its nature of carbon absorption.Also it is a great insulator. Wood is being used for centuries to build garden accessories, stable doors, fencing and other purposes but now its usage possibilities are getting widened.
On September 11th, 2012 at 11:06 am Sara Myers Said:
Wood is a really great building material, but most construction companies prefer metals and glass. How else can it be used?
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