Carbon Sequestering CLT Housing

Published here

Hello, the Greater Sudbury Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) outlines a plan for an increase in regreening efforts as part of its goals to increase Carbon Sequestration. In this document, the desired outcome for 2050 is to quadruple carbon sequestration rates.

This goal sounds lovely! However, I am wondering if there might be a way to incorporate a circular economy within this system. Canada already has a robust, sustainable forestry sector; surely there is some overlap between this existing sector, local carbon sequestration goals, and housing?

When a tree sequesters carbon, that carbon remains in the tree even when cut and used in construction or for other uses. The carbon is only released when the wood is burned. My proposal is this; use enhanced sustainable forestry methods already in place in Canada as a way to sequester carbon and as a way to provide materials for sustainable and affordable housing developments in the city.

Canada is currently facing a massive housing bubble which is affecting a large portion of domestic buyers. Canadians have been priced out of homes. Solutions for sustainable and affordable housing essentially already exist; we only need to have the will to try them.

Crosslaminated timber panels (CLT), like the ones used in the McEwen School of Architecture in Downtown Sudbury, are an excellent solution that sequesters large amounts of carbon while remaining a beautiful, cost-effective construction material well-suited for our northern conditions.

A local CLT manufactory would suit Northern Ontarian building practices and sustainably promote job and industry growth in the region. I would love to see lumber be used in such a way, which seems to tick so many boxes.