Green Cities : a green future?

After 100 years building with concrete, designers, builders and developers (architects, constructors and real estate companies) realized that the business they belong to constitute an unhealthy industry that is contributing to climate change. They are now aware that ignoring environmental and climate change impacts is not professional. This is how timber appears as a good alternative for designing and building, and making the change.

Why make the shift to timber? The main benefit of engineered wood is that on its own, wood is a renewable resource. Other advantages of using timber are:

• Ecologically and sustainably building (green cities): all the European products are made from either Forestry Stewardship Council certified or PEFC-certified wood. That also means for every tree harvested, five more are planted.

• High prefabrication degree.

• Easy installation, in a short period of time.

• Healthy and comfortable environment: studies carried out in Austria and Germany around the benefits of timber for the wellbeing of occupants, such as children in schools, show reduced stress levels, reduced heart rates and improved learning.

Mainly in Europe, this new way of construction has grown in an explosive way, United Kingdom and Austria , seem to be the leaders. By this, Green Cities are built but the big question is: can we have green cities all over the world ? As a Construction Engineer, i would say that probably no.

First, in many countries the normative framework should change and be adapted for this new construction technology, process that can take years. I am thinking in seismic countries, like United States, Japan, Chile, etc. In the case of Chile, for example, after the big earthquake suffered the 27/2/2010 (8,8 Richter), the seismic norm had to be changed. This took 2 years. Second, what about the resources? the population is growing, so we require more land for settlements. If we decide to turn concrete construction to timber, do we have sufficient land for all the forests that we will require? Even more, how we ensure that the harvest is certified as in Europe? Third, will all actors (designers, builders and developers) accept the challenge? Its perception needs to be changed, new design thinking is needed. Maybe some countries will show resistance, considering their religion, culture, moral code and socio-economic position.