Globally, our homes make an impact on the environment long before they start sheltering us. Embodied carbon—the total emissions related to building materials and construction—plays a substantial role in our individual carbon footprints. Traditional materials like steel and concrete are harsh on the environment, but there’s a surprising hero rising in the sustainable building scene: wood, and more specifically, engineered wood.
Turkel Design explore how engineered wood not only reduces waste but also offers a greener alternative for constructing our homes.
The Case for Engineered Wood
Traditional lumber practices can often paint a bleak picture for environmental conservation, yet when we choose wood over steel or concrete, which are responsible for 13% of global carbon emissions, we’re already making a favorable choice for our planet. But as we refine our options, engineered wood emerges as a leader in sustainability.
Many Turkel Design homes now utilize engineered wood, derived from the excess shavings of standard lumber manufacturing—a process that previously led to waste being burned or sent to landfills. Instead, those leftovers are now pressed into service, quite literally.
Check out these engineered wooden studs here, which demonstrate how sustainable practices can lead to products that are not only uniform and precisely tolerable but also remarkably straight.
Sustainable Building, Durable Living
Engineered wood’s appeal skyrockets as it proves to be more durable than conventional lumber, resisting shrinkage and warping throughout its lifetime. This results in structures that are more efficient to heat and cool due to their tight construction.
Desert House in Palm Springs, California— of Turkel Design co-founders, Joel, and Meelena Turkel—is a testament to the success of engineered wood. Laminated strand lumber, a product praised for its consistency and versatility, was used extensively in constructing the Desert House, yielding a structure that indeed exceeded expectations.
“It comes from the factory straight and stays that way,” says Meelena Turkel, highlighting the material’s stability and ability to facilitate precise construction expectations.
With examples such as TimberStrand® laminated strand lumber, Turkel Design are proud to pioneer the application of engineered wood in their projects, including the striking homes along the northern Florida coast. aim to blend aesthetic beauty with structural integrity and environmental responsibility.
At PLACE, we are committed to revolutionizing the housing marketplace by fostering an ecosystem that emphasizes ecological responsibility. With initiatives like the Village marketplace, we encourage factories to pool their production capabilities, promoting economic growth, efficiency, and environmental consciousness.
We aren’t just creating homes; we’re building communities dedicated to sustainability and innovation.
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