Save construction jobs with trees: #houtbouw #bouwprotest

‘'Trees don't grow to the sky'’

The construction protest clearly indicates that we need to look for alternatives in construction. 

Meeting housing demand with a positive impact is possible! We need to carefully consider which materials we use for which purpose. A metal beam is effective in complex structures and can be used in technical systems for renewable energy solutions. Concrete and bricks provide a solid foundation. However, for the vast majority of (residential) construction, wood is an ideal solution. Building with wood allows for CO2 storage, rather than CO2 emissions. 

Over the past few years, we've consistently concluded, through various projects, that the economic opportunities for (re)using wood are enormous. In the AMA alone, at least 200 million tonnes of used wood are available annually. With this "waste wood" alone, we could build approximately 1,200 homes!Link to the report)(download the presentation here).

In the province of North Holland, several pilot projects have been launched using local and reclaimed wood in construction. For example, beams and detailing are being made from trees from Amsterdam in collaboration with companies like Stadshout & Bouwmaterialen Nederland (City Wood & Building Materials Netherlands). Furthermore, 1,200 beams from a large demolition project with Lagemaat & BMN are being reused in construction. Both pilot projects appear to be cost-effective in the calculation model (Link to the calculation model) and in the coming months it will be tested whether this is also the case in reality. 

The potential of wood was once again emphasized during the meetup following the Tegenlicht documentary Timber Builders in Pakhuis de Zwijger (Link to the meetupThere, we had the opportunity to respond to the documentary through a presentation. We essentially agree: timber construction is the future. Use the wood for construction, not for energy generation. There's plenty of other biomass that can be used for energy generation.download the presentation hereThe Biobasedcamp at Dutch Design Week also confirms this image: wood is the concrete of the future.

Take Fien Wonen (residential properties in the Utrecht region) as an example. They've done some calculations, and their initial conclusions suggest they can meet housing demand within the established limits by building with wood. Together with the supervisory board, they've decided to build entirely with wood. However, the documentary and the meetup reveal that other investors are still a bit cautious. While they're familiar with the impressive results of concrete investments in bricks and mortar, they naturally don't want to risk anything when it comes to experimental new homes using alternative materials. 

While they are familiar with the rock-solid results of concrete investments in bricks and mortar, they naturally do not want to bite the bullet on experimental new homes using alternative materials. 

I've been a believer in building with wood for quite some time. Over the past few months, I've started finishing my houseboat as part of the CPO Schoonschip project. Step by step, I consciously opted for (waste) wood and local wood from Stadshout. Why? Read on:‘CO2 storage through forests and wood – combating climate change through the use of sustainable wood‘'‘

The concrete base is topped with a wall structure of pine timber framed by wood fiber insulation, covered with loam and a bamboo outer shell. Oak (from Vondelpark) was used for wall detailing and iroko window frames, and will soon be finished with a beautiful elm reveal. After hours of planing, making mistakes, re-planing, and gaining a thorough understanding of woodworking, the reward is resounding: the wood lives on in the work and subsequently in your home, even after the felling. Planing old meranti doors is a rewarding task. The wood adds character and a pleasant indoor climate. 

With everything we've tried and experimented with over the past year, I'm pleased with the signals from The Hague, two very relevant motions:

Van Eijs (D66) serves motion no. 681 (30196) She requests the government to map out the potential contribution of large-scale timber construction to the nitrogen problem, climate change, and housing shortages, and to inform Parliament about this in the spring of 2020.

Van der Lee (GreenLeft) serves motion no. 686 (30196) . He asks the government to investigate how the use of sustainable wood in construction can be promoted and to actively experiment with this within the pilot neighborhoods. 

This, coupled with construction protests, makes it clear that we're jointly seeking alternatives that can ignite the construction sector. Wood is a contender, potentially also for real estate investors in the future. Perhaps we'll dare to transplant one after the other, because a tree doesn't fall with its first blow. 

Valuable addition of Pablo van der Lugt:

In response to criticism about "disappearing forests" in the EU: Apparently, there is still a great deal of ignorance that, among other things, more forest is being added in Europe than is disappearing – see the FAO figure below. In Germany alone, where we source most of our wood, the land area consists of 321,000 hectares of forest, and this number is increasing (5,000 hectares per year).

Valuable addition of Gert Willem van Mourik:

“"Building with wood? But what if it catches fire?!" I hear this question at least once a week. Last week, I spoke with a former firefighter, and she confirmed that a wooden building is more fire-safe (!) than a non-wooden one. And yet, this is the biggest prejudice about timber construction: "Isn't it a fire hazard?" Absolutely not! Absolutely not!