Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 9

86 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 9 gases and improves air quality. Forest products, like mass timber, can also sequester carbon for generations. Offsite prefabricated construction is dramatically speeding up construction time and lowering costs Mass timber panels arrive onsite almost like a kit. The panels are arranged for efficient placement, and assembly. Other factors that speed up mass timber projects include relying extensively on 3D modeling to revise designs precisely and efficiently. This means mass timber can be fit together with unmatched precision, which leads to enhanced strength. Offsite prefabrication also means the building spends much less time being exposed to the effects of bad weather. Construction seasons are also expanded because offsite prefabrication can take place during winter months when working outdoors is challenging. Building with wood has environmental and health benefits In addition to the climate change benefits associated with forests and forest products, the advantages of building with wood also include conserving water and enhancing biodiversity. Building with wood is also good for our health. In the U.S., people spend 90% of time indoors and have become increasingly disconnected from nature. Building with wood addresses biophilia – humans’ innate draw and affinity for nature – and has been linked to reducing stress, improving cognitive function and creativity, accelerating healing, and fostering an overall sense of well- being. By increasing people’s connectivity to the natural environment, biophilic design helps connect them to nature in the buildings we live and work in. Building with wood can also address things like health and well-being and stress levels.