This dissertation investigates the environmental impacts of increased use of wood in buildings by life cycle assessment (LCA). The outcomes depend on the system model, biomass modelling, efficiency of integration, and decision context. These complexities are covered through literature review, LCA of early design stage climate impacts, combined consequential LCA (CLCA) and dynamic biogenic carbon assessment, and evaluation of using fast-growing resources in wood buildings.

The dissertation highlights an overall underestimation in predicting early design stage climate impacts. Most influential are wood, insulation, and metal materials and better estimation requires a thorough selection of EPDs and unit processes.

Changing to more wood in the future, using CLCA, indicates that the affected suppliers of steel and wood production residues, considered tree rotation in modelling the forest growth, and service life of wood products influence the climate impact. The biodiversity impact generally increased for all wood buildings. However, substituting non-loadbearing wood and insulation products could reduce the needed land for wood buildings in the production stages.

For a copy of the thesis, please email inst.build.phd@build.aau.dk.