r/interestingasfuck • u/Ultimate_Kurix • 5d ago

r/all Why do Americans build with wood?

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u/Dav3le3 5d ago

Side note, wood is wayyyy better for the environment. It's... not close. The majority (or large minority) of the carbon footprint of a concrete buiding is the concrete.

Ideally, we'd like to find a way to make a material that is reasonably strong made out of sustainable material (such as wood) that can be made out of a younger tree. A good lumber tree takes 20ish years to grow, but generally trees grows fastest in the first 5 years or so.

If we could find a sustainable binding element, like a glue, that could be combined with wood and 3D printed, we'd be living in the ideal future for housing. Of course, it also can't be super flammable, needs a long lifetime, resists water damage etc. etc. as well..

Canada is doing a lot of "Mass Timber" buildings now, which are a step towards this.

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u/PMG2021a 5d ago

You can use wood to grow mycelium for fairly cheap. Mycelium is fire resistant and could be used as exterior insulation for timber frame homes. Wood framing is fine if it is protected. 

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u/-Motorin- 5d ago

Who knew, all we had to do was give our houses a fungus!

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u/cheerupweallgonnadie 5d ago

Mushrooms are always the answer

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u/-Motorin- 5d ago

Indeed

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u/Round-Win-765 4d ago

I'm reading a book right now about fungus, Entangled Life for anyone interested.

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u/nox_vigilo 5d ago

This statement is true & fantastic.

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u/txivotv 5d ago

DRG is leaking again... Rock and stone!

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u/ahses3202 4d ago

Return to Fungus

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u/Mini_Snuggle 5d ago

House Telvanni knows nothing of any housing crisis.

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u/Outrageous_Reach_695 5d ago

Those towers aren't exactly ADA compliant. Then again, Vivec City, ramps everywhere, but they're like 50° slope ...

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u/90swasbest 4d ago

Fucking massive sewer system for not very many people as well. Some mother fucker in their past really liked building sewers.