Case studies on the life cycle assessment of lumber production and of tall wood buildings
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Date
2025-01
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
Mass timber provides a low-carbon alternative to steel and concrete, reducing global warming potential (GWP) and non-renewable energy use while acting as a carbon sink. Life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates environmental impacts, supporting sustainable construction practices. This research includes three LCA case studies. The first examined softwood lumber production in New Brunswick, Canada, with emissions of 43 kg CO₂ eq/m³, relying on 58% renewable energy from woody biomass during kiln drying. The second analyzed hardwood lumber, emitting 41 kg CO₂ eq/m³ up to sawing, using 98% non-renewable grid energy. Both softwood and hardwood offset their emissions with stored carbon, achieving negative GWP. The third study compared cradle-to-grave impacts of hybrid mass timber-steel, full mass timber, steel, and concrete designs in the Bakers Place project, USA. Mass timber significantly reduced GWP and non-renewable energy but showed higher acidification and eutrophication impacts due to transportation and landfill decomposition.