TEWO solid wood elements eliminate need for plastic

Buildings are a major source of carbon emissions. If strides are to be made in cutting emissions, buildings – including homes – must be highly energy efficient.

Moreover, awareness of the environmental advantages – and the health benefits – of timber is growing.

Termowood has developed a proprietary process for constructing cost-competitive, breathable homes in solid wood. The company has tested and certified a new building element that eliminates the need for a plastic vapour barrier inside walls, improving indoor air quality.

Patented in seven European countries, the TEWO element combines solid wood and insulation in a finished product that is quick to build with. It is the first plastic-free alternative approved in Norway, and meets the requirements for building energy-efficient passive houses. It is competitive on price, strength and construction time.

Termowood’s elements have received an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Designed for efficient construction, they are easy to mount and inexpensive to build. They can be combined with most floors, roof and interior walls, and used alone or in combination with other materials, including steel and concrete.

The elements are delivered with rock wool or wood fibre insulation. They replace four to six components in traditional building frames, thereby reducing transport needs and emissions. Termowood also strives to supply the exact amount of material needed for each project in order to minimise waste.

Moreover, timber is a renewable resource, continues to store the carbon from the trees it came from, and can be recycled. All of this reduces the carbon footprint of homes and makes a positive contribution to a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a building.

The market for solid wood homes is increasing as the cost becomes more competitive with standard alternatives.

Termowood opened a new automated production facility in 2019 to increase product volume and thereby minimise delivery time and expand into new markets. The new production line allows Termowood to produce materials for one standard house per shift per day (eight hours).

The production line will primarily be used to meet demand in Norway. As production ramps up, Termowood will partner with companies in other countries.