Rebecca Foster investigates the eco credentials of closed-panel timber frame systems, and what you need to know to ensure your build meets your green goals

Above: Building a healthy house was a top priority for the owners of this country property, who suffer from hayfever and asthma. The impressive eco credentials of a Baufritz build led them down the closed-panel timber frame route, resulting in this contemporary project. 

Self builders have been at the front of the green homes charge for decades. Understandably, a lot of focus has been put on systems and materials that contribute to creating a low-energy, low-bills living environment, with minimal carbon emissions over the lifespan of the house. But there’s a growing focus on other facets of the sustainability equation, too.

“To some people, energy saving is enough and that’s what sustainability is all about,” says Neil Sutherland, architect and director at MAKAR. “But describing a product as ‘eco’ for its energy-saving properties alone is not acceptable in 2021. It’s important to look to additional criteria as we move towards net zero, including embodied and operational energy/carbon.” So, there’s a balance to strike, and many people are now looking at upfront environmental impact in terms of how goods are produced, transported and maintained. A comprehensive eco building strategy will also consider occupant health, encouraging the use of natural, replenishable and nontoxic materials over finite fossil-fuel derived resources.

If you’re looking for a structural system that ticks a lot of those boxes, the good news is that modern closed panel timber frame can do just that. But simply settling on a structural route with burnishing green credentials doesn’t mean you should rest on your laurels and tick sustainability off your wish list. You need to do your research to determine whetherthe exact system you’ve got your eye on can meet your eco project goals. So let’s take a closer look at where closed panel solutions deliver, what aspects you might want to scrutinise, and how some suppliers are taking sustainability to the next level.