“Evidence-based design is an area of study that focuses on incorporating the results of empirical research into the quality of the build environment.”
A report, released by Australia’s not-for-profit Planet Ark Environmental Foundation and entitled, “Wood, Housing, Health, Humanity,” concluded that:
- “The use of wood in the interior of a building has clear physiological and psychological benefits that mimic the effect of spending time outside in nature.
- The feelings of natural warmth and comfort that wood elicits in people has the effect of lowering blood pressure and heart rates, reducing stress and anxiety, increasing positive social interactions and improving corporate image.
- In addition to its associated health benefits, when wood is used as a building material or to create long-lasting products, those items become a carbon store – they lock carbon out of the atmosphere.
- With the global population growing, the construction of new buildings is inevitable. If these new buildings were built with wood, they would not only act as a long-term carbon store, they would generate fewer emissions in their construction.” Concrete and steel cannot say the same.
“Do your world some good. Wood is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials used by humanity, and it has a large part to play in the future of health and housing.”
For the full report, visit makeitwood.org.
