Primary energy consumption in buildings and the emission-trading-scheme: Chances for the timber sector?

With the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS), the European Union designed a system which shall achieve the emission targets at minimal cost. To assess the possible impact of the ETS on the building sector, and to detect emerging opportunities, a questionnaire was circulated in various branches of the building sector in Germany. Results outlined that at the present time it is not foreseeable how far and to which extent the emissions trading scheme will be introduced in the building sector, including the wood building industry. Therefore an active promotion of wood products with special reference to the plus energy balance of wood and its high portion of renewable energy stored within the material is crucial.