Environmental Impacts of Multi-Storey Buildings Using Different ...

- 121 -The LVL specified for the structural components of the Timber and TimberPlus buildings isavailable as a product, in appropriate dimensions and quantities, from a number of companiesin NZ. There is, undoubtedly, a large resource of plantation grown P. radiata in NZ toprovide the raw product for the manufacture of LVL.However, it is acknowledged that the fabrication facilities, machinery and techniques forproducing key structural components – in large quantities and in large piece sizes - is not yetcommercially available in NZ. These structural components must be cut and glued to precisetolerances from LVL plants, with connection devices accurately positioned.9.7.2 Other Timber ProductsThe Warren and Mahoney report included in Appendix G is a very useful starting point forexploring the suitability of the specified timber used in the buildings, particularly the Timberand TimberPlus buildings. Suitability is the key word - this report acted as an importantreality check on the building designs to ensure that the timber specified in the proposeddesigns was appropriate architectural usage (including usage in any external situation andappropriate NZ architecture), could be sourced, in sufficient quantities and from where, andfrom a sustainable market. The report also offers appropriate schedules and products for ongoingmaintenance over the life-time of the building.The report confirms that the various proposed uses of timber in the buildings are appropriate,the different timber species are available and can be sourced both locally and internationallyas necessary, and largely from a sustainable, certified forestry markets. Furthermore, thetimber products are durable, with lifetimes extending to cover the full 60-year life cycle of thebuildings.The increasing recognition of various certification systems for sustainable forestry andproducts means that an increasing amount of suitably certified timber is becoming availableboth in NZ and internationally. Indeed, it is likely that consumer demand will ensure that alltimber products will be sourced from sustainable forest markets in the not-too-distant future.9.8 The Big PictureThe popular media, scientific journals, government initiatives, and international forums, toname a few, are awash with information and debate about climate change and globalwarming. Hand-in-hand with this, has been an explosion of interest, worldwide, in all-thingssustainable.‘Sustainability’ is the ‘buzz word’ of the times.New Zealand has signed a binding international treaty, the Kyoto Protocol, which commitsthe country to reducing its emissions of those gases perceived to be responsible for globalwarming. Irrespective of the all the debate about whether climate change is anthropogenic,just a natural, cyclical climatic variation and the time frame, it can be argued, that NZ as acountry now recognises that the present way-of-doing-things is unsustainable.A major focus for change rests on the need to reduce the wasteful use of energy, especiallyfossil fuels, and the (predominantly) CO 2 emissions associated with energy usage. Buildingscontribute significantly to energy usage both in NZ and worldwide and the materials that areused to construct and maintain those buildings are themselves a significant proportion of thatenergy usage. Determining exactly how important building materials are in terms of