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With now nearly 7 billion people on the planet, we are seeing ever-increasing impact of man’s activities on the natural environment (land, water, air and the populations of plants and animals that live in or on them).

Timber has been used by man for an enormous variety of purposes since pre-historic times, particularly in the construction of shelter and for artefacts used in day-to-day life.  Forests cover 30% of the earths surface.  Trees have been called "fountains of the earth" (Durrell 1993).

Typical British Forest

Today, timber and wood-based products continue to be used in construction, often in conjunction with other, man-made materials (metals, concrete, plastics). Wood is truly renewable in a relatively short time frame and can also be recycled through a succession of uses before returning to its constituent elements of carbon, water and energy.

Wood plays a major role in combating climate change. Greater use of wood products will stimulate the expansion of Europe's forests and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by substituting for fossil fuel intensive products."

• Wood products act as a carbon sink throughout their life

• Wood has the lowest energy consumption and the lowest CO₂ emission of any commonly used building material

• Wood’s thermal insulation properties mean timber frame houses use less energy

• Wood is uniquely renewable

• Using wood products encourages forestry to expand, increasing the carbon sink effect and reducing the CO₂
in the atmosphere

• Wood is created by photosynthesis and can be considered an efficient way of storing solar energy

• Recovering the energy from wood products at the end of their life - as a substitute for fossil fuels - increases the CO₂ benefit of using wood.

For more information on biomass energy:

www.saveenergy.co.uk/renewables/explained/biomass.cfm.

Solar architecture and timber construction:  ideal symbiosis

All over Europe, one particular type of detached house is becoming increasingly popular. We are talking about wooden houses featuring large glazed surfaces facing the sunny south and well insulated walls with small windows on the cold northern side to protect against heat loss.  This new low-energy building technique is without a doubt Solar Architecture as it uses the free energy of the sun in various ways.

Over 8000 tree species, 10% of the world’s total, are threatened with extinction.  Like all resources, the forests which produce timber need careful management if they are to continue to supply the increasing demands placed upon them.  Fortunately, there are now many organisations dedicated to educating the public as to good forest management.

Brazilian Rain Forest

LINKS:

 

Global Timber Directory
Agents & Brokers  Associations  Associations (non-timber)  Banks & Finance  Education  Environment Exporters  Forestry Internet Machinery & Equipment Manufacturers  Merchants & D.I.Y  Timber Harvesting  Treatment & Kilns  Veneers Other, Industrial Pulp and Paper  Exhibition Companies Authorities, Embassies and Councils	Packing Materials Computing  Consultants Contractors Credit Insurance Handling Equipment & Forwarders Haulage & Freight Importers Impregnated Timber Port Authorities Publishers  Recruitment & Training  Sawmills Shipping & Port Agents Carpentry and Joiners  Flooring  Building and Construction  Fuelwood, Pellets and Recycling

http://www.pefc.org

http://www.bre.co.uk

http://www.forestry.gov.uk

http://www.fsc-uk.info

http://www.forestsforever.org.uk

On October 14, 1994, members of the American Forest & Paper Association agreed to adhere to a set of forestry principles that would meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. These principles call for a land stewardship ethic which integrates the reforestation, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and water resources, wildlife and fish habitat, and forest aesthetics.

A lovely timber mobile home in Sussex - Contact us if you are thinking of settling down 

to a comfortable sustainable lifestyle. You'll need the planning lowdown.

We can supply similar homes 48'x18' , 28x18 and 20x18 as an affordable flat-packs,

(POA due to the volatile timber market). Our planning strategist secured

consent for this mobile home, even where the council concerned were adamant 

that this attractive, affordable unit did not comply with regulations.

.Utopia Tristar ER flatpack timber mobile home 28'x18' for couples & small families.

Email:   or phone UK and ask for James:

+ 44 (0) 1323 831727

+44 (0) 7842 607865

Utopia Tristar Partners

(affordable sustainable living)

Solar House, BN27 1RF, United Kingdom

Forestry   Pulp & Paper   Wood Products   Environment & Recycling

Belize - golden stream corridor preserve

Brazil - Coastal Atlantic Forest

Central America - Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC)

Chile - conservation of monkey puzzle forests

Chile - remnant native forest in the mediterranean region

China - Magnolia conservation (Proposed)

Cuba - palm conservation

Dominica - conservation of the national flower

Ecuador - Awacachi Corridor Project

Europe - Planta Europa

Guatemala - threatened trees of Guatemala

Haiti - Palms

Liberia - re-starting nature conservation

Madagascar - Vohibola Littoral Forest

Mapping - threatened tree distributions

Mauritius - threatened tree conservation

Mexico - Oak & dry forest conservation

Non-timber forest products

Philippines - Cebu Cinnamon

Russia - Red Listing for trees

SoundWood

SoundWood Conservation

SoundWood Education Programme

SoundWood Engaging Industry

SoundWood Instruments and Woods

SoundWood Instruments and Woods - Pianos & Harpsichords

SoundWood Instruments and Woods - Guitars, Banjos & Mandolins

SoundWood Instruments and Woods- Harps

SoundWood Instruments and Woods- Violins and Bows

SoundWood Instruments and Woods- Woodwind

SoundWood's Directory of Instrument Makers

SoundWood's Directory of Wood Suppliers

SoundWood's Feedback Forum

South Africa - Clanwilliam Cedar

Sri Lanka - conservation profiles for Stemonoporus species

St Helena - Millennium Gumwood Forest

Sudan - Nubian Dragon Tree

Tanzania - mpingo conservation project

Tonewoods of the World

Uganda - sustainable drum production

UK - public awareness of threatened trees

UK - Wood waste and recycling project

Vietnam - conifer conservation

This website is copyright © 2013 Electrick Publications. All rights reserved. The bird logo and names Solar Navigator and Blueplanet Ecostar are trademarks ™.  The Blueplanet vehicle configuration is registered ®.  All other trademarks hereby acknowledged and please note that this project should not be confused with the Australian: 'World Solar Challenge'™which is a superb road vehicle endurance race from Darwin to Adelaide.

 Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

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