REVEALING TIMBER STRUCTURES POTENTIAL IN DECARBONIZATION OF LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Abstract

The article presents the results of theoretical studies on embodied carbon for load-bearing wall structures prevailing in low-rise buildings consturction practice in order to reveal the potential of timber structures in decarbonization of the construction sector. Seven types of wall structures were considered in the study. CO2 emissions were determined using the environmental product declarations for relevant materials considering sequential life-cycle stages (raw material supply, production and transportation of building products, construction process, building waste transportation and disposal) with regard to recycling benefits. A lightweight timber framed wall panel was shown to have minimum carbon emissions at each life-cycle stage leading to lowest total carbon embodied