Health benefits of timber

posted: 28/Mar/2016

Did you know living, learning and working in timber buildings is good for your health?

These benefits are outlined in a report launched by Planet Ark's Make it Wood campaign in the lead up to World Wood Day. The report titled Wood - Housing, Health, Humanity examines the growing body of research showing the range of health and wellbeing benefits of living, working and learning in environments rich in wooden furnishing and fixtures.

Some of the findings include:

• Residents in aged care facilities interact more with each other when surrounded by wood,

• Students in classrooms that feature more wood have lower heart rates and stress responses than students in classrooms featuring plastic and metal and

• Two out of three workers prefer offices with wooden chairs, desks and blinds over the same office with those items made from plastic.

Wood products within a room have also been shown to improve indoor air quality by moderating humidity.

These benefits are particularly important for environments where it is difficult to incorporate nature indoors, such as hospitals where strict health guidelines may prevent the presence of plants, and office environments where views from the window are of roads and neighbouring concrete buildings.

An increasing number of architects who design buildings for healing, learning and relaxation are now incorporating significant amounts of wood into their structures to capitalise on its health and wellbeing benefits.

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