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Initiative

Sustainable buildings in sustainable societies with CLT Cross Laminated Timber

Sustainable buildings in sustainable societies with CLT Cross Laminated Timber
SUBMITTED FROM:

FUV

The technical-commercial company FUV, with 20 years of experience and distinctions of construction excellence in Greece and abroad, took the initiative to develop the CLT Greece network for the promotion and support of wooden construction with cross-laminated timber. 
This is the revolution in modern construction because, apart from the environmental approach, huge benefits are achieved in seismic behavior, very low consumption and excellent energy efficiency during the use of the building, in acoustic comfort and of course in fire safety as specific standards of lining and protection are followed.
Each construction completed by FUV has the certification of international bodies such as the American LEED, the German Passive House and the Italian CasaClima.  By promoting this construction model, we contribute to the Greek economy, reduce the energy footprint, provide a solution to the housing problem, create quality trained crews and at the same time sensitize local communities when we prove in practice the benefits of applied building sustainability.

https://fuv.gr/



Objective Action

The Mass Timber Greece network was created by FUV with the aim of developing in Greece, the innovative and pioneering construction of sustainable buildings from cross laminated timber (Cross Laminated Timber). It is a building system based on wood, a natural and fully recyclable material, which replaces reinforced concrete and bricks, while the project is then completed with the use of thermal facades and other coatings, plasters or paints (interior and exterior). With this particular building system, high-rise buildings can be built without any change in the "appearance" and the aesthetic approach of modern architecture, in contrast to the initial impression created when hearing a wooden structure. At the same time, there is a huge improvement in the "is", i.e. the essence of modern construction reflected in quality living and indoor comfort conditions, sustainability and CO2 reduction!

To give a comparative figure, a reinforced concrete construction requires energy equal to 30.6 kwh/m³ while for the same building constructed with CLT the energy needs are 4.5 kwh/m³. That is, an 85% reduction in the energy footprint is achieved, just by replacing the construction material of the load-bearing body and the filling elements, without any change in the aesthetics or functionality of the building, while the construction times are reduced by approximately three to four times.

 

Target Audience

The audience is particularly broad as a CLT construction can house residences, offices, public buildings, schools, hospitals, professional or even craft spaces. In short, it's for everyone! Especially in Greece, a CLT construction is an ideal and flexible option in the remote areas of the mainland and islands, as the time to complete a project can reach 4 months.

The network is addressed to all directions of the construction industry, both at B2B level, supporting technical offices, architects or construction companies, as well as B2C audience, with direct support for individuals and investors who will choose the sustainable solution in construction.

 

Duration

We see the promotion of timber construction with CLT as a sport entitled "Marathon Relay", where we in turn carry the baton that we have received from previous visionaries. We realize how unlikely it sounds to create a high-rise building out of wood, when everyone today builds with concrete. However, this is how the use of concrete sounded 100 years ago when everyone was building with stones. In the next 100 years, everyone will be building with wood and what we are living now is a journey, an adaptation to a new construction and social reality created mainly because of needs. We are experiencing a technological revolution, not just evolution. At the end of this revolution as well, the whole society will enjoy its benefits while, as happens most of the time, we don't even know who or who started it. Timber construction came to establish itself and dominate, until it too was accepted as a building tradition in the next 100 years!


Description

The development prospects of the initiative are very great as one of the main problems we face in Greece is the quality application of reinforced concrete in remote areas. On the mainland but especially on the islands, where the concrete production units are located at a great distance from the respective project and in combination with the high temperatures, the quality result is often precarious while the costs are many times higher.

This precariousness comes to face the construction with CLT as it is very important to understand the quality and economic benefits offered by a construction that has been done in a protected space, with a constant temperature, no waste of materials and zero possibility of error.

The pros are many, starting with the protection of the environment as with the development of new buildings from CLT the necessary reduction of CO2 pollutants is achieved faster. This offers a great social benefit considering that Greek society is less aware of the environment, recycling and green behavior, compared to other European countries. The recent economic crisis has obviously contributed to this fact, which shifted citizens' priorities to problems of daily survival, pushing the green approach away for later.

Unfortunately there is no room for later and this is the opportunity for the best win-win relationship between civil society and built space. The choice of a green CLT construction will significantly act as a trigger for the daily improvement of the internal comfort conditions of the citizens and the real approach to sustainability through their daily life. Societies shape their environment and this in turn shapes societies!

To date, there are no certified CLT production units in Greece and therefore we must import the material from the closest quality manufacturing country, neighboring Italy. This in itself increases energy requirements and CO2 emissions, but in any case, the end result is much better environmentally than conventional construction.

A more ambitious goal with the spread of CLT, in the future, would be the creation in Greece of certified units to produce composite glulam. Let's not forget that the strategic position of our country can feed the entire eastern Mediterranean as the wood revolution is global and is coming, slowly and steadily.


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Impact on Society

This is the revolution in modern construction because, in addition to the environmental approach, huge benefits are achieved in seismic behavior, in very low consumptions and excellent energy efficiency during the use of the building, in acoustic comfort and of course in fire safety as specific investment and protection standards are followed. The public that will choose a wooden structure is already aware and well informed.

The opportunity presents itself when most of the population who do not have any previous information or information will live in such buildings and will experience the positive results in terms of the quality of the internal comfort condition, energy savings directly cashing in the benefits of applied sustainability in construction.

By promoting this specific construction standard, we contribute to the Greek economy, reduce the energy footprint, solve the housing problem, create quality trained crews, raise awareness of local communities in the best approach to sustainability with every day, small actions.



Initiative Location

The place of action is the whole of the country and especially its remote areas, while due to our strategic position, there is the possibility of development and promotions outside the borders. We take it for granted that in the future there will be a greater demand from other neighboring Mediterranean countries. Then it will be the right time for an investor to create the first CLT manufacturing unit in Greece and our country will be able to become an important point of distribution of the material and technology throughout the south-eastern Mediterranean.


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Working with Organization

More than the word collaboration, we use the word synergy as there are many agencies that have already developed, tested and implemented this technique. The network combines more specialized and recognized professionals in the field, globally. In Greece it is still at the stage of development and promotion with great potential for spreading through private or public projects, small and large scale.

Every construction we complete through our network is certified by international organizations such as the American LEED especially for public buildings, the German organization Passive House and the Italian organization CasaClima. By including the certification costs in the constructions we specify, we give added value to the property, greater reliability in terms of our services and of course the best value for money for our employer or partner.

The Mass Timber Greece network is a relay marathon, whereas FUV we have received the baton and intend to pass it on to the next generation. For this reason, our services are directed in any direction to any part of Greece. We can cooperate both with private individuals who are looking for the complete solution from initial design to completion, as well as with public services, technical companies or fellow engineers who wish to implement projects with this technique.


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Workers Participation

A permanent staff of 14 people, including engineers, application technicians and commercial representatives, is active around the organization. The external partners, technical offices and private engineers who act as network multipliers exceed 500 people.

Through the further promotion of the object in Greece, the Mass Timber Greece network is able to attract private and public bodies, increasing the participation of employees and volunteers around the general actions that are launched.


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Benefits for Οrganization

At FUV, having over 20 years of experience, with distinctions of construction excellence inside and outside Greece, we are able to offer and develop a network for the spread and support of wooden construction with Mass Timber.

Through the network, we can bring together the best practices and the best professionals in the industry. In this way, the company can grow exponentially and by multiplying its activity, support projects throughout Greece, either with direct construction assignments, or as support and training of other technical companies in the country.




Connection with Global Goals






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