The 21st Century has ushered in a new era of advanced wood building practices, forest products and innovative systems and techniques. New developments in wood science and building technologies, coupled with evolving building codes, have opened a vast array of new uses and applications for wood in construction. As a renewable resource which stores carbon, wood can play a significant role in terms of providing a solution to reduce the environmental impact of urban densification.
British Columbia (B.C.) wood products are ideal for wood-frame, post-and-beam and hybrid construction. And with increased focus on carbon neutrality, energy efficiency and life cycle assessment, responsible material choice is a key factor driving the development of new wood products, systems and high-performance based building standards, such as Passive House.
In B.C., researchers are utilizing wood fibre to create new and innovative products. Some examples include cellulose products used as a substitute for glass fibres in reinforced plastics and lignin, that could be used in high-end sporting equipment.