Sustainability and wood constructions: a review of green building rating systems and life-cycle assessment methods from a South African and developing world perspective.

This study reviews, from a South African and developing world perspective, green building rating tools and life-cycle assessment methods with a focus on wood constructions. Based on existing studies, it seems as if the well documented environmental benefits of using wood is not sufficiently reflected in the green building rating systems reviewed. Although life-cycle-assessment is recognized as the best way to holistically evaluate the environmental impacts of a building, it is resource intensive, can be highly complex, and is dependent on the availability of accurate data. The life-cycle assessment research results on which green building rating tools were based, were mostly from colder, northern hemisphere developed countries. This might result in an over-emphasis on the operating energy requirements of buildings at the expense of embodied energy and the importance of material choices. We therefore conclude that there is a critical need for local life cycle assessment based research in South Africa and other developing countries on the environmental impacts of different building products and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]