Abstract
ABSTRACTWooden construction elements often exhibit lower life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than conventional counterparts (‘material substitution effect’). Moreover, the building stock represents a carbon (C) sink if timber inflows (construction) surpass outflows (demolition) (‘C-stock effect’). A dynamic stock model incorporating these effects is applied to quantify potential climate benefits of wood construction in Austria's residential building sector. If present trends are maintained, culminating in a wood construction share (WCS) of 50% during 2050-2100, building shells could contain three times as much C in 2100 as today. Annual timber demand for residential construction could double, but would remain well below Austria's current net exports. Compared to a baseline scenario with constant WCS (22%), cumulated GHG savings from material substitution until 2050 are estimated 2 to 4.2 Tg CO2-equivalent – clearly less than savings from C-stock expansion (9.2 Tg). Savings from both effects would double in a highly ambitious scenario (WCS=80% during 2050-2100). The applied ’Stock Change Approach’ is consistent with IPCC Guidelines, but the above-mentioned savings from C-stock changes would not materialize under the current default GHG inventory accounting approach. Moreover, savings from C-stock effects must eventually be weighed against forest C-stock changes, as growing domestic demand might stimulate wood harvesting.
Highlights
Background and motivation1.1 Environmental benefits of wood-based products and buildingsThere is broad scientific evidence for environmental benefits of wood-based products compared to conventional counterparts consisting of ‘non-wood’ materials [1]
In a meta-study focusing on greenhouse gases (GHG), Sathre and O’Connor [2] conclude that for each ton of carbon in wood products substituted in place of non-wood products, savings are typically in the range of 1.8 and 5.5 t CO2-eq Werner and Richter [3] conducted an extensive literature review of comparative life-cycle assessments (LCA) and found that, with regard to most impact categories, wood products ‘tend to have [a] favorable environmental profile’
By converting timber stock developments into equivalent values of carbon and CO2, climate benefits resulting from carbon stock increases are quantified; GHG reductions resulting from material substitution are calculated on the basis of specific GHG savings per m2 of floor space derived from LCA data in the literature; The total GHG savings, calculated as the sum of the two components, is analyzed on an annual and cumulated basis for each scenario
Summary
Background and motivation1.1 Environmental benefits of wood-based products and buildingsThere is broad scientific evidence for environmental benefits of wood-based products compared to conventional counterparts consisting of ‘non-wood’ (metallic, synthetic or mineral) materials [1]. In a meta-study focusing on greenhouse gases (GHG), Sathre and O’Connor [2] conclude that for each ton of carbon in wood products substituted in place of non-wood products, savings are typically in the range of 1.8 and 5.5 t CO2-eq Werner and Richter [3] conducted an extensive literature review of comparative life-cycle assessments (LCA) and found that, with regard to most impact categories, wood products ‘tend to have [a] favorable environmental profile’.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
