Sustainability right from production

When we refer to the energy consumption of buildings, we often only mean the savings potential during use. This is undoubtedly important and a lot of energy can be saved here. 

But it is also worth taking a look at where the building materials come from and how production takes place. The study "Graue Energie im Ordnungsrecht/ Förderung" (Grey Energy in Regulatory Law/ Funding) by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) shows that materials made of wood can reduce up to 60% of CO₂ emissions from buildings in the grey energy sector. In comparison to reinforced concrete and solid stone construction methods, the study states, for example: 

"By far, the highest energy saving potential, however, lies in a wooden construction with renewable insulating material" (p. 21) 

The study emphasises that when dealing with the issue of energy saving we should not only focus on the use phase of buildings, but follow a holistic approach. 

Product life cycle is the keyword here: How high is the resource consumption of a product from manufacture through use or even second use, up to disposal? And this is exactly where SWISS KRONO wood materials can score. 

Ecological features of SWISS KRONO OSB

• Use of certified thinning wood from organically managed forests (FSC ®-C023682 and PEFC certified)
• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for transparency regarding life cycle assessments
• Certified energy management system (ISO 50001:2011) for the reduction of resource consumption of water and energy
• Our own biomass power plant produces a large part of the necessary energy from residual or recycled wood
• CO₂-neutral production
• Commitment to cascade utilisation, which results in thermal use where the products must also be regarded as regenerative energy sources 

Read more about this topic: 

Wood and wood materials as building materials of the future 

Conventional solid construction versus timber construction