Let wood take root in the construction industry

18 March 2020 Sustainable construction

Wood is gaining a foothold in the construction industry as a sustainable alternative to materials like concrete and steel, also thanks to the increased attention to the environment and the climate. In Denmark, the world’s first PEFC-certified one-family house has been inaugurated recently.

Villa Grenaa, a construction project in the town of Grenaa, is a prime example for sustainable construction and marks the beginning of a new era in the Danish construction industry.

Designed and built by the sustainable building company Jakobsen Huse, the building is the world’s first one-family house to achieve PEFC project certification. Nearly 85% of the wood used for the building is PEFC-certified.

Jakobsen Huse has been dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable houses for many years. Through the use of certified wood for their constructions, they have taken a big step in the direction of a more sustainable future for all families.

Since the builders Dennis and Mary Thaagaard bought the building site in 2012, their goal has been to build a sustainable house that others could be inspired by – and freely copy. After two years of development and construction, their sustainable home is ready to move in.

The certification company NEPCon certification acted as the project's independent third party auditor, ensuring that the work of Jakobsen Huse complies with the requirements included in the PEFC standard.

A concept based on wood

“Our structures are always made of wood, we insulate with wood fiber and use wood board as a steam brake. Around 90% of our customers also choose wood for the facade,” explains Maria Venø Jakobsen, owner and CEO of Jakobsen Huse.

“We have developed a concept based on wood, due to the many benefits of using wood in construction. Wood absorbs CO₂ from the air and makes the house breathable, creating an optimal indoor climate for the residents.”

Wood – the better building material

One of the greatest problems of our time is the enormous amount of CO₂ produced. Globally, the construction industry is one of the major culprits for this accounting, and this is mainly due to the use of concrete and steel.

As a tree grows, it absorbs CO₂ and stores it as carbon. The carbon remains in the tree even after it has been felled. Building family homes that store carbon is a big step for the construction industry towards becoming more environmentally sound.

PEFC project certification

PEFC project chain of custody certification is a specific form of chain of custody certification that allows companies to take advantage of PEFC certification for their projects. Project certification was designed as a mechanism for gaining independent verification of the use of certified timber in a one-off project such as a construction project which has a limited duration.

Find out more about project certification, including how you can get it for your next construction project!

Photo credits: Jakobsen Huse