Energy


Wood can be considered a traditional material, but its rustic appearance belies intriguing properties. Researchers hypothesise that its use can modulate the conditions of internal spaces, and even our perceptions of them. At Aalto University, a new project seeks to understand and share these energy conserving strategies


Utilising wood to create energy- efficient living spaces


It’s one of our most ancient construction mediums, but, surprisingly, wood may also possess qualities that render it an ideal material for twenty-first century living. A significant


interdisciplinary


study funded by Aalto University is currently examining these features and determining how they could take root in our homes. Under the aegis


institution’s Energy Efficiency Research Programme, the initiative branches across research groups focusing on bioproducts chemistry, wood materials technology, architecture, energy technology and environmental psychology – a diversity indicative of its many potential applications and effects.


homeowners to install it. “In future, I hope that wooden design components will be created that can be serially reused,” says Hughes. “These could potentially be incorporated in several buildings throughout their functional lives. Because wood


stores of the carbon, this concept is


extremely advantageous for the atmosphere and climate.” “Wood is simultaneously a good insulator


and possesses a reasonably high heat capacity,” says Hughes. “These are interesting


thermal past. One of the properties, which


haven’t always been thoroughly exploited in the


areas we’re


examining is thermal relationships within a building, or between rooms and the wooden features inside them.” Wood is often incorrectly referred to as a ‘breathing’ material, although it should


“Wood is simultaneously a good


insulator and possesses a reasonably high heat capacity”


“We want to look at the properties of


wood, and how these can be exploited to make buildings more energy efficient,” explains Mark Hughes, professor of wood technology within the Department of Forest Products Technology. “Wood is aesthetically attractive, due to its natural grain, and is often regarded as a tactile, cosy material which ‘feels’ warm. Our project seeks to explore both the physical aspects of the material and the ways in which people interact with it.” Spatial design and usage of wood within


interior settings will be explored, alongside a consideration of its visual appeal, and the factors that could incentivise


72 Insight Publishers | Projects Test house at Aalto


properly be designated as hygroscopic. “This means that it absorbs water from its surrounding environment, particularly if untreated and exposed. If humidity drops, that moisture is released back into the atmosphere. This dynamic behaviour could prove very useful in locations where there are large peaks or troughs in internal humidity. Wood, properly deployed, could contribute towards moderating these conditions.” Because of this property, wood may actually reduce the amount of energy necessary to heat a building. A fundamental objective of the research is


to consider how the functionality or usability of wood can be enhanced, without inhibiting some of its helpful attributes. Heat capacity is one of these desirable properties, which


the researchers will attempt to moderate by compressing wood


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112