Most French houses have traditionally been built with stone, brick or concrete. But a recent shift in policy, along with a campaign highlighting the benefits of wood, are encouraging the French to change their building habits and increase their consumption of wood substantially.
Following the Grenelle Environment Round Table held by the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Planning and Development, an act was created to establish new environmental guidelines for the building sector. The act provides financial incentives that encourage energy-efficient changes to both existing and new buildings.
Shifting to more environmentally sound and reusable wood is one measure designed to save energy and reduce CO2.
Wood a lifestyle choice
As of December 1, 2011, the constructors are to incorporate even more wood when building homes. An initial change in accordance with the Environment Round Table was to increase the amount of wood per square meter of floor space in French residences by tenfold, from about 2 cubic decimeters to 20 cubic decimeters. That figure will now increase to 35 cubic decimeters, and even further increases have been announced to come.
“Most people have realized that building with wood is a lifestyle choice and contributes to the preservation of the environment,” says Laurent Hren at France's National Committee for the Development of Wood.
It takes less energy to build a wooden structure than an equivalent one made of concrete or steel. Wood is also a very effective insulation material, so less energy is consumed for heating compared with concrete or steel.
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SCA IN FRANCE
- SCA sells 150,000 m3 solid wood products a year, mainly white wood (90 percent).
- 80 percent goes to industrial customers, for example doors, window shutters, laminated constructions and
planing mills.
- 20 percent is sold to building merchants.
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Canadians like wood
Wood houses are expected to grow by 30 percent a year for the next five years. In 2000, just 3 percent of houses were made of wood, but today taht figure is around 5-8 percent.
Yet France still has a long way to go to match the amount of wood used in other countries. In the US and Canada, about 90 percent of single-family homes contain wood framing. In the Nordic countries that figure is about 60 percent.
But as the benefits of building and living with wood become more apparent, the demand for wood is expected to increase even more in France, not just for homes but for other types of buildings as well.
“I think wood in general will be more present in buildings in the years to come – exteriors, floorings, furniture etc.,” says Laurent Hren. “There is a demand for wood from both public and private customers. In addition new products are constantly being launched that increase the possibilities.”
Read the whole story in SHAPE 3 / 2011, SCA's magazine on trends, markets and business
Cari Simmons Illustration Istockphoto Source SHAPE 3/2011