A new material, cross-laminated timber (CLT), is emerging as a preferred material in the construction industry due to its performance and sustainability benefits. Manufacturing it requires less energy and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, compared to steel and concrete.
CLT also contributes to sustainability by storing carbon. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, and wood retains this carbon when used in CLT. Advocates of CLT argue that this carbon storage helps offset the carbon emissions from other construction materials.
Paul Crovella, a professor at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry, who researches sustainable construction, believes that CLT can help make construction more efficient and sustainable. He stated, “The sustainability benefits of CLT can assist the construction industry in meeting the ever-growing needs for high-quality construction with less labor, greater erection speeds and a lower environmental impact. The biophilic benefits from CLT can aid the industry in creating beautiful spaces while supporting healthy forest ecosystems. The use of a hybrid approach (structural steel frame with CLT decks), provides a cost-effective manner to incorporate beneficial carbon storage into the built environment.”
The material is being increasingly used in a wide range of buildings, including schools, residential construction, and commercial buildings.
