b'CONSTRUCTION MATERIALProponentsoftimberarguethatpriceswoodpriceshavecontinuedtoshowlife-cycle costs of wood frame and concrete will come down once the industry maturesgreat instability and limited availability instructures,takingintoconsiderationnot andmoremanufacturers,designersandthe market, which is a risk for investors,onlychangingtechnologiesandrelated innovatorsenterthefield,butmostdevelopers, owners and other end users. costsofbuildingproducts,butalsothe timberprojectstodatehavedependedonlonger-termcostsofbuildingoperation, governmentorwoodindustrysubsidies.Anothercostingfactorthatmakesamaintenance and decommissioning. Concrete, however, has been relatively stabledifference is the price of insuring wood-over the last 10 years, with an annual averageframed buildings over other structures. ASUSTAINABILITYincrease in Canada of just 2.4 per cent.2016 study by GLOBE Advisors on behalf ofThe construction industry is rightly focused the Concrete Council of Canada suggestson building sustainability. Timber is seen as Tothatend,Thibaultsuggeststhatthat insurance costs are approximately sixbeneficial in this regard in terms of lowering pricingstabilityisanimportantfactor:timeshigherforwood-framebuildingstheembodiedcarbonfootprintcompared Constructionwoodcostswerestablethan concrete due to higher risks of fire,to other construction materials. Moreover, upuntil2016withpricesatUS$300tomoisture damage and other factors. timber is made from a renewable resource, US$400 per board feet and then increasedwhich adds to its sustainable reputation. significantlytoreachtodayshighpriceIt demonstrated that there is a need for of US$900 per board. Over the last year,a definitive comparative analysis of totalHowever, there are now multiple studies thatsuggestwoodmayinfactofferno sustainability benefit over concrete or steel when accounting for carbon emissions from deforestation, says Adam Auer of the Cement Association of Canada.Concrete can be a valuable contributor whenitcomestosustainableandlow carbonemissionbuildingdesign.Lower-carbonconcreteproductshavebecome commonplace, while producers are working toreducetheirrelianceonfossilfuels, increase the use of recycled concrete and aggregates in production, and pursue other eco-forward innovations. Many concrete companies are doing their part to lower their carbon footprint. Lafarge Canada,forexample,isaimingtoturn itsoperationsintozeroimpactby2050. Dufferin Aggregates, a CRH Company, also continuestopromoteconcreteproducts with fewer impacts on the environment.Theformofconcretethatgenerally competeswithtimberisICFs(insulated concreteforms),particularlyinlow-riseapplications,notesJimPetrella, commercialservicesmanagerwith DufferinAggregates.Buildingsthatare madewithICFnotonlyenhanceenergy efficiency but can save three to five per cent in reduced greenhouse gas emissions over the buildings life cycle compared to wood or timber frameconstruction.Theuseofconcreteversuswoodin construction has been debated for centuries. And while concrete has enjoyed a longer and more reputed track record within the industry, industry experts agree that timber also has a role to play in bringing the next generationofbuildingstolife.AsAuer points out: The reality is most buildings are going to require all those materials, so best possible way?the question is, how do you use them in the 10 AVENUESWINTER 2021'