The Influence of Life Cycle Assessment Methods on Wooden Buildings: Exploring Material Correlations, Dynamic Characterisation, Biogenic Carbon Accounting, and Implications for Building Design

Climate change, marked by rising temperatures and extreme weather events, is a critical global challenge. Despite international efforts like the Paris Agreement, current mitigation strategies fall short, also within the building sector, significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. This dissertation explores the environmental potential of using wood in buildings, highlighting wood’s ability to sequester carbon and low-energy processing requirements. By reviewing 79 publications and analysing 45 wooden case buildings, the study emphasises the need for holistic approaches to optimise wood usage while minimising overall environmental impacts from buildings. It further delves into dynamic life cycle assessment methods, focusing on temporal factors related to wood and biogenic carbon accounting. The research underscores the significance of integrating these temporal factors into LCAs to better understand and enhance wood’s role in climate mitigation.