Wood’s positive impact
on human beings
Now, it’s been scientifically proven that wood has a positive impact on us. The European research project Wood2New, which ran for three years and was finalised in February 2017, shows that using wood as a construction material benefits both the environment and our health.
Study proves wood’s positive impact on human beings
Industry, including Kährs Group, has collaborated with scientists from six countries in the project. The aim was to map out the effects of using wood in indoor environments, as well as to stimulate increased use of wood in interiors.
We spend, on average, 90 per cent of our lives indoors. This means that the air quality and indoor temperature not only affects our health, but also our quality of life. But exactly in what way and how much has previously not been mapped out. In order to fill this gap in existing research, an international research project was initiated in 2014 in which a number of wood industry companies and universities participate. The final report was presented at a seminar at Linköping University at the beginning of March 2017.
Scientists engaged in the project state in the report that wood has superior strength in proportion to its weight, is easy to work with, renewable and widely accessible. It is quick to work with, promotes good conditions at the building site, is flexible and provides designers with a great scope of freedom. Furthermore, wood binds and stores carbon dioxide, evens out indoor humidity and can be recycled. When we, for example, have a shower or cook food on our stoves, it contributes to increased indoor humidity. Wood absorbs this - and later, when it becomes drier, emits humidity – a process that has been studied with a thermocamera.
