British Oak is unrivalled as a primary building material. Its strength and durability is legendary, but it is its low embodied energy that sets it apart from other materials.

Oak contains its own natural defence against rot and insect attack and in many cases out lives most kinds of stone in construction.

Scottish Oak Buildings is committed to using British Oak from sustainable sources within the UK, stimulating the British forestry industry, whilst reducing unnecessary transportation of materials. With no industrial process, toxic treatments and harmful waste British Oak has one of the lowest embodied energy counts of any constructional material.

Embodied energy

Embodied energy is an important issue in architecture. Embodied energy means ‘the amount of energy used to extract, process, transport, install, maintain and dispose of a product’. In terms of a building this embodied energy can be divided into ‘initial’ and ‘recurring’ elements. Material extraction, processing and installation belong to the initial category whilst maintenance is the key recurring factor.

To produce a build with a low embodied energy takes planning and a long term strategy. Scottish Oak Buildings supports the use of sustainable design, products and materials in conjunction with its Green Oak frames to achieve this. We take particular interest in the use of high value insulation, alternative heating/ energy sources, renewable/ recyclable building materials and how they work with Green Oak frames.

The Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders  promotes the use of products and materials that are environmentally sound and sustainable.

Using British wood is better!

Using British wood gives value to our woodlands. Without value, we lose our woodlands.

• Using British timber reduces carbon emissions/ footprint; imported timber will have travelled hundreds if not thousands of miles before it is ever worked. This vastly increases the amount of energy used in creating your building.
• British forestry is tightly controlled by the Forestry Commission.
• Much of the wood harvested in Britain is done so under the scrutiny of the Forest Stewardship Council.
• Every pound spent on British wood helps to ensure that our forests are well managed and keep growing in size.
• British forestry supports a web of rural trades and crafts.

FSC is an international network to promote responsible management of the world’s forests.