Green Buildings on display at the Dubai WoodShow

Unlike metals and fossil-fuel-based products such as plastics, wood has various environmental benefits especially when used in construction, according to Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions, organisers of the Dubai WoodShow, Middle East’s Leading platform for wood and woodworking machinery set to take place from 4 – 6 April 2016 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The current edition of show will put major focus on highlighting various concepts related to wood sustainability to help manufacturers, wood associations to understand these facts and follow green methods.

Al Shezawi said that Dubai WoodShow 2016 will ensure that wood raw materials are produced and used in a sustainable fashion, mainly in construction which accounts for around 70% of the wood demand in the Gulf. “Estimates show that mega building contracts are expected to be awarded in the coming period which puts more focus on the importance of growing and consuming wood sustainably,” he added.

According to the Wood as a Sustainable Building Material book published by Forest Products Laboratory, if sustainable forest management and harvesting practices are followed, wood resource will be available indefinitely. 

With the UAE and the region in general is gradually moving toward the concept of Green Buildings, Dubai WoodShow 2016 will give special attention to this domain in its upcoming edition. Much of the focus of green building is on reducing a building’s energy consumption (such as better insulation, more efficient appliances and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems) and reducing negative human health impacts (such as controlled ventilation and humidity to reduce mold growth). However, choosing building materials that exhibit positive environmental attributes is also a major area of focus. Wood has many positive characteristics, including low embodied energy, low carbon impact, and sustainability.

Embodied energy refers to the quantity of energy required to harvest, mine, manufacture, and transport to the point of use a material or product. “Wood, a material that requires a minimal amount of energy-based processing, has a low level of embodied energy relative to many other materials used in construction such as steel, concrete, aluminum, or plastic. International experts from around the world will give insights on this topic and help the forest management industry understand the importance of following sustainable practices,” said Al Shezawi.

The Wood as a Sustainable Building Material book continues that carbon in wood remains stored until the wood deteriorates or is burned. If the tree is used to produce a wood or paper product, these products store carbon while in use. For example, solid wood lumber, a common wood product used in building construction sequesters carbon for the life of the building. “At the end of a building’s life, wood can be recovered for re-use in another structure, chipped for use as fuel or mulch, or sent to a landfill,” added Al Shezawi.

“One of the greatest attributes of wood is that it is a renewable resource. Wide range of efficient, durable, and useful wood products will be on display at the Dubai WoodShow 2016,” concluded Al Shezawi.

The 2016 edition of Dubai WoodShow 2016 will continue providing a perfect platform for suppliers, manufacturers & machinery companies to showcase their products, innovative technologies, production scenarios and large scale machinery to key players in the wood & woodworking machinery industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.