building materials and thermal mass

Massive, heavy-weight construction materials generally have a high embodied energy component in their manufacture and correspondingly high CO2 emissions. Lightweight construction utilises sustainable and low embodied energy attributes of timber from reliable sources.

Lightweight buildings do not store significant amounts of heat, therefore they warm up quickly when heated and cool down quickly over night – no energy is therefore wasted simply warming up or cooling down the structure.
 

concrete slab •   heavy mass •   high embodied energy •   high CO2 emissions		timber sub-floor •   lightweight •   low embodied energy •   C02 absorbing