Tall Wood Buildings Promote a Clean Energy Future

Published on November 09, 2018

Do Janne Vermeulen, architect for the Amsterdam based Team V Architecture, is helping to design a 73 metre tall mass-timber building that will be used for residential purposes in Amsterdam.

This project, called HAUT, is part of a race that is occuring around the globe to see who can build the tallest building out of timber

Addressing Wood Works B.C.’s annual Wood Solutions conference in a keynote presentation, Vermeulen said that it is not important who builds the tallest first.

What matters for Vermeulen is that this race will spark attention towards the energy efficient and low emission construction of tall wood buildings, and that it will hopefully work to inspire the construction of more timber-based buildings.  

In October, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report that called for immediate action to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released globally, or else major climate change impacts could be seen in as little as 12 years - with droughts, famine, and floods being much more severe than had been originally anticipated.  

Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director of Wood Works B.C. has said that education on wood products and building systems is imperative, as large wooden buildings offer a low carbon option over the alternatives.

For Rob Bernhardt, CEO of Passive House Canada, the new report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is yet another report that demonstrates the need for collaboration towards lowering global greenhouse gas emissions.

Bernhardt has praised the policy framework of Canada’s Build Smart initiative, while also acknowledging that “doing is far more difficult than planning,” he said.

Vermeulen hopes that the HAUT project will set an example for future buildings using alternative materials to be incorporated into a city’s skyline, and she believes that HAUT project is demonstrative of how well tall wooden building projects are being accepted - as they have managed to sell the apartments without any insurance or mortgage problems.

Lowering Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Here at Barrier Sciences Group we are excited to see low carbon initiatives such as the HAUT project begin to unfold across the globe. For homeowners who are looking to contribute to lowering global greenhouse gas emissions, improving home efficiency is a fantastic place to start. A higher level of efficiency is not only beneficial to the environment, but it can also work to lower utility bills, and increase home comfort and air quality levels.  

By having a Home Energy Assessment conducted by our Registered Energy Advisors, homeowners in Ontario are able to receive energy efficiency information specific to their home, as well as a list of possible energy saving solutions for them to consider - organized by our advisors in terms of cost-effectiveness. Quite often, the most effective way of improving home efficiency is through a simple and cost-friendly retrofit such as improving the level of insulation in the attic,

Our Registered Energy Advisors are also able to explain and help you qualify for any of the home renovation rebates that are currently available from Union Gas, making it even easier to see a return on home efficiency investments.