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Do Your World Some Good with Wood

9/6/2018

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​In addition to its associated health benefits, the use of responsibly sourced certified wood can have significant positive environmental outcomes and help reduce climate change.

The temperature of the earth is dependent on the balance between the amount of energy entering the planet’s system from the sun, and the amount reflected and released back into space. The natural greenhouse gas effect is where gases in the atmosphere absorb and retain heat, a natural process that is vital for life on earth. However if these greenhouse gases increase in quantity, more energy is absorbed and the earth heats up.
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​Current atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas, are 40% higher than preindustrial levels. If the current trend in energy usage continues carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to increase by a further 20% by 203556. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other authorities have warned that emissions need to be significantly reduced by 2020 in order to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change, with the global economy reaching net zero emissions by 2050 to limit global warming to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures. In order for this to occur emissions not only need to be reduced, but the number of carbon sinks (which remove carbon from the atmosphere) also needs to be increased.
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Through the process of photosynthesis trees remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it as biomass, mostly wood. Planting more trees will therefore absorb more carbon and help reduce the impact of emissions. When responsibly sourced wood is used as a building material or to create long-lasting products those items become a carbon store – they lock carbon out of the atmosphere. 

Using wood as a building material also means that the use of much more carbon intensive and non-renewable materials like concrete and steel can be reduced. One study for example identified that the total energy consumption in the manufacturing of steel beams is 2-3 times higher, and the use of fossil fuels 6-12 times higher, than manufacturing timber beams. In New Zealand it has been estimated that a 17% increase in wood usage in the building industry would result in a 20% reduction in carbon emissions from the manufacture of all building materials, 1.5% of New Zealand’s total emissions.
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​Furthermore innovative timber systems designed for prefabrication and disassembly allow for reuse of the timber, creating a more resource-efficient product life cycle than typical demolition and down-cycling, helping to avoid landfill waste.

With the global population growing, increasing rates of urbanization and the construction of new buildings are inevitable. If these new buildings were built with wood they would not only act as a long-term carbon store, but they would generate fewer emissions in their construction.

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​The use of wood in the interior of a building has clear physiological and psychological benefits that mimic the effect of spending time outside in nature. The feelings of natural warmth and comfort that wood elicits in people have the effect of lowering blood pressure and heart rates, reducing stress and anxiety, increasing positive social interactions and improving corporate image.

These benefits are particularly important for environments where it is difficult to incorporate nature indoors, such as hospitals where strict health and safety guidelines may prevent the presence of plants, and office environments where views from the window are of roads and neighbouring concrete buildings.

Responsibly sourced (and certified) timber has clear health and happiness benefits, as well as being a weapon in the struggle against climate change by both storing carbon and eliminating emissions.

​Wood is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials used by humanity but it also has a large part to play in the future of health and housing. 

- Planet Ark
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The Health Benefits of Wood

7/19/2018

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As you know, the Thoma Holz100 building system is 100% pure solid wood without a trace of glue, toxins, chemicals, or VOCs. From nature to your home, it is a completely unadulterated building material exclusively moonwood harvested and naturally air-dried for the highest quality of timber. It requires no additives and offers a plethora of both structural and health benefits.

So it is important to know that not only does it fulfill ideal building standards, it also brings its habitants an amazing environment of health and wellbeing. Here are three studies that prove the health benefits of wood on the body:

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​A Japanese study compared the initial physiological response of 14 people sitting in rooms with either wooden or steel wall paneling. The pulse and heart rate of each subject was measured every second for 20 seconds whilst facing the paneled wall covered by a curtain, followed by 90 seconds with the curtain removed and the wooden or steel panel visible. The study found that exposure to wooden panels significantly decreased the blood pressure of subjects, whilst exposure to steel panels significantly increased it.

​Sakuragawa, S., Miyazaki, Y., Kaneko, T. & Makita, T. Influence of wood wall panels on physiological and psychological responses. 51, 136–140 (2005).
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​An Austrian study examined the heart rates of 30 people who slept in a Stone Pine bed for 3 weeks and compared it to their heart rates when sleeping in a wood imitation bed for 3 weeks. Sleeping in a stone pine bed reduced heart rates by 3500 beats per day compared to when subjects were sleeping in a wood imitation bed.

​(Joanneum Research Institute of Non-Invasive Diagnosis)
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​A yearlong Austrian study examined 36 high school students aged 13-15 years old who were taught in either a classroom furbished with floors, ceilings, cupboards and wall panels made of solid wood, or a classroom equipped with a linoleum floor, plasterboard walls and chipboard cupboards. The results showed significant differences between the two groups, with students taught in the wooden classrooms ​having decreased heart rates and decreased perception of stress from interactions with teachers. In contrast, students taught in the control classroom had increased heart rates and had greater stress responses.

Kelz, C. & Moser, M. . (Medical University of Graz, 2011)
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Decreased blood pressure, reduced heart rates up to 3,500 beats per day, decreased perception of stress, and even more can be achieved by simply building with wood! Make your home into an oasis of health and vitality today with Thoma Holz100.
From Planet Ark's "Make It Wood"
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A World Indoors

7/9/2018

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Schools and offices: studying and working indoors in the absence of nature
The health and wellbeing benefits associated with spending time outside in nature are well known and have been studied extensively by the scientific community and reported by Planet Ark.

These known benefits include:
• Increased happiness and self-esteem levels
• Increased cognitive abilities
• Decreased stress response, blood pressure, pulse rates and cholesterol levels

However, increasing urbanization rates mean that people have less access to nature in their daily lives and Americans on average now spend about 90% of their time indoors. This coincides with reports of increasing levels of obesity and many experiencing a mental health condition within their lifetime. As it is not always possible to increase our time spent outside, particularly in areas like workplaces, schools and hospitals, understanding how to incorporate the physiological and psychological benefits of nature into our indoor environments is an increasingly important area of research.

Studies have demonstrated that simply having a view of nature from a window can have significant positive effects, such as shorter postoperative hospital stays, induced feelings of relaxation in patients at rehabilitation centres and improved comfort levels of employees in offices. Not surprisingly, the presence of indoor plants has also been shown to have benefits, such as improved cognitive functioning in office environments, increased tolerance of pain in hospitals, lowered blood pressure and heart rates.

Evidence-based design (EBD) is an area of study that focuses on incorporating the results of empirical research into the quality of the built environment. Originating from the field of environmental psychology, EBD works on the notion that the design of the built environment fundamentally impacts the people within it. Of particular interest are designs of physical features that can lead to stress-reduction, productivity and general wellbeing. Since evidence shows viewing nature in both outdoor and indoor settings has health and wellbeing benefits for people, it is logical to examine whether wood, a natural material, produces similar effects.
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Benefits of Holz100 - Sustainability and Innovation

4/26/2018

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​Holz100 Canada Inc. is focused on raising its standards and efficiency in order to fulfill our clients’ needs and be able to actively maneuver into potential markets in which it has been our privilege and pride to implement over a thousand projects all over the world.
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​SUSTAINABILITY


  • Waste-free Life Cycle: we are the first building system to receive GOLD in Cradle to Cradle
    • Extremely low consumption of energy required compared to bricks or glued wood-based materials as Holz100 is exclusively from renewable, reusable raw materials
    • We are the sole producer of structural materials that uses only solar energy and produces more energy than it uses.
  • Certified by FSC and PEFC
    • Responsibly sourced and certified timber is a formidable weapon in the struggle against climate change by both storing carbon and eliminating emission.
  • Passive house energy and airtightness values (up to 0.6 ACH50)
    • World record in thermal insulation among structural building products (λ = 0.079 W/mK)
    • Up to 95% reduction in energy use
    • The unique wooden-dowelled cross laminated construction results in minimal air leakage, shrinkage and thermal bridges.
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​INNOVATION


  • Save time and cost with prefabricated components; can build as fast as up to 1,500 sq.ft / day
    • The speed of construction is a huge benefit in wet and cold climates and drastically reduces the cost through savings in labor, maintenance, and interior finishes
  • Highly versatile & customizable – limited only by your imagination
    • Designed according to customized individual plans and customers’ requirements
    • Fulfills various needs from a private house with modern low energy consumption levels to commercial buildings for innovative and cost-conscious businesses
  • Build the most efficient mobile, passive, and off-grid homes with Holz100
  • The international Holz100 patent is a guarantee that we offer original goods under the Holz100 brand. The true original materials come straight from the inventor.
  • All product properties of Holz100 have been certified and countless awards have been granted to Holz100 by renowned institutions and public authorities in the fields of innovation, ecology, business efficiency and social engagement.
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Benefits of Holz100 - Health and Safety

4/19/2018

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Holz100 is a state-of-the-art innovative concept that is absolutely different from CLT without a trace of toxins, chemicals, glues, or VOCs. With over three decades in expertise, we are proud to be number one in building the world’s healthiest, most sustainable, safest 100% pure solid wood homes. We strongly believe Canada has an impeccable potential for our products and any project being built with Thoma Holz100 will become works of art; a masterpiece, with the highest health and building standards.
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HEALTH

  • 100% pure solid wood
    • 0% toxins, chemicals, glue, artificial additives or VOCs
    • Free of off-gassing and air pollutants
  • Natural stabilization of temperature and humidity fluctuations
    • No boundaries between the layers impermeable to vapor and humidity
    • Natural thermal insulation, storage and buffering
    • 3-4 times longer cooling down time due to the thermal mass of wooden walls
  • Exclusive use of ‘moonwood’: superior quality of wood harvested at the right time
    • Offers almost no nutrition for pests = no infestation
    • Less cracking, splitting or warping of wood; longer durability and longevity
    • No toxic wood preservatives needed
    • 50-year guarantee against mold and condensation
  • Hypoallergenic due to the natural fungal resistance of moonwood and natural reduction in household dust: a dream atmosphere for those who are allergic and sensitive such as children
  • Save up to 3,500 heartbeats per day as wood naturally slows down heart rates
    • Several international research studies show that living in solid wood structure brings harmony and relaxation, slows down the heart rate, boosts the immune system and provides restorative sleep at its best to reduce overall stress and stress-induced illnesses. 
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SAFETY

  • 5 times better fire safety ratings than conventional buildings of brick, concrete or steel: up to F180
  • A solid wood construction resists fire longer than any other building materials. In case of fire, no poisonous vapors are released and there is practically no increase in surface temperature on the opposite side of the fire. In fact, Holz100 is used as firewalls.
  • 99.9% effective barrier to electromagnetic radiation, ex. cell phones, microwaves, etc.
  • Soundproofing up to 63 dB
  • Storm, flood and earthquake resistant - forces of the nature has minimal damage on Holz100
    • Holz100 buildings survived numerous earthquakes in Japan without significant damage thanks to its outstanding flexibility to horizontal accelerations
    • Defied the strongest storms in German coastal regions
    • Suffers no major flood damage and are easily habitable after flooding
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Holz100: Building Healthy Solid Wood Homes

3/15/2018

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​Architecture in the Cycle of Nature

With the first complete waste-free cycle concept in the construction industry, Thoma Holz100 has shown that the approach of working together with nature is better from a technological and business standpoint. Our principle of waste-free construction is inspired by the forest.

​Thoma Holz100 was founded in 1990 by a forester who wanted to build the healthiest house for his children. Today the company is famous around the world for its environmentally friendly approach to business.
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From a Single Source

Thoma takes care of the entire raw material chain from logging the timber to producing finished Holz100 elements. The Gußwerk sawmill which Thoma operates is the largest moonwood sawmill in Europe, and the components for Thoma houses are manufactured in two Holz100 plants. The exceptional quality can thus be assured right up to the finished house.
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Valuing Creation with Wood

Felling trees at the right time, a careful drying process and handmade construction materials. Holz100 processes wood according to strict principles, which are far beyond the current industry standards. That’s how we create sustainable value with wood.
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Over 1,000 Healthy Homes Around the World

The patented Thoma Holz100 construction surrounds its inhabitants with pure, solid wood. Stepping into this non-toxic, chemical and glue-free house immerses you in the energy and magic of trees, where you can also marvel at the finest, high-tech wood technology. Our best testimony are the thousands of delighted owners of Holz100 homes.
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Why Wood?

2/5/2018

1 Comment

 
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We Build the World's Healthiest, Greenest, Safest 100% Solid Wood Prefab Homes with the Highest Building Standards


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​'Eckhart Tolle Reveals How to Silence the Voices in Your Head' in OPRAH

“Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, how deeply rooted in ‘just being’. Allow nature to teach you stillness. When you look at a tree and perceive its stillness, you become still yourself.”  – Eckhart Tolle, one of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time

HEALTH – YOUR GREATEST INVESTMENT

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We don’t notice right away, but why do we get headaches and feel dizzy or suffocated in large stores or new buildings? The reason is simple. According to EPA, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90% of their time indoors”, where “concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors up to ten times higher than outdoors… VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects”. Conventional building materials pollute the air we breathe with dust, VOCs, allergens, and off-gassing due to chemicals, toxins, glue/resins, paint, varnishes, stains, and so much more that we do not see but feel over time.

A long-term exposure to hidden toxins induce stress and can trigger serious stress-related health consequences, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and related cardiometabolic complications. Three of the ten top causes of death in the U.S. include cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease correlated to long-term exposure to such environments are exactly the ones minimized by wood. During sleep in a pure wooden home, the heart rate slows down so that a person saves 1 hour (3,000+ heartbeats) a day and reduces overall stress - as if you were sleeping in a forest.

BUILD WITH WOOD

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​Do you know about the various associated health benefits of wood? Based on extensive research ("Make it Wood" by Planet Ark), numerous independent studies taken all over the world clearly demonstrate that the presence of wood has positive physiological and psychological benefits that mimic the effect of spending time outside in nature.

For example, wood improves your emotional state by increasing levels of happiness, self-esteem, cognitive abilities and self-expression while reducing blood pressure, pulse rates, cholesterol and stress levels.

Using wood in schools and daycares reduce exposure to stress during childhood and adolescence which decreases the probability of stress-related mental disorders later in life. Natural wood in hospitals and senior’s homes increase interaction, engagement, positive self-expressions elicited by the feeling of warmth, comfort, and relaxation which reduces stress, anxiety, risk of dementia and recovery time which shorten hospital stays, therefore reducing medical costs. Within commercial or corporate environments, the presence of wood drastically influences first impressions as it conveys feelings of innovation, energy, comfort, and improved productivity. Most consider wood to be visually appealing, has a natural look and feel, and is more versatile, recyclable, renewable and long lasting compared to brick, concrete, steel, aluminum, and plastic.
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Not only do wooden living spaces improve its residents’ emotional, mental, and physiological state, but responsibly sourced and certified timber is also a formidable weapon in the struggle against climate change by both storing carbon and eliminating emission.

Contrary to the great misconception that wood cannot be fireproof, heavy timber construction has an inherent level of fire resistance which increases with thickness as the outer layer chars and becomes a protective insulation layer that slows down the burning rate. The strength and load carrying capacity is not as compromised as steel which buckles under extreme heat due to its significantly higher thermal conductivity and allowing heat to spread rapidly, causing beams and floors to collapse.


CHOOSE HOLZ100 FOR YOUR DREAM HOME

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Holz100 (“holz” = wood in German) is a cross-laminated, prefabricated 100% pure solid wood building system connected by wooden dowels – it is the product of our founder Dr. Thoma’s aim “to build the healthiest house in the world – with the highest standards of build”. Holz100 is therefore the ultimate all-in-one solution for health, safety, sustainability, and wellbeing for both people and the environment. It is certified by both FSC and PEFC, our wood is harvested at the ideal time (‘moonwood’ or lunar harvested) in high altitudes, selectively hand-picked and air-dried for the highest quality achievable for timber products. These methods collectively ensure that even without a trace of preservatives, glue, toxins, chemicals, or VOCs, our building system ensures extraordinary longevity and quality that results in no air leakage, shrinkage or thermal bridges.

Patented internationally, Holz100 is the most unique and exclusive product which fulfills most, if not all,ideal building standards which includes a world record in thermal insulation, a fire safety rating 5 times better than of any other conventional building system (in case of fire, poisonous vapors are non-existent and there is practically no increase in surface temperature opposite side of the wall – allowing Holz100 to be used as firewalls), 99.9% barrier to electromagnetic radiation and achievement of passive house standard ratings for energy use and airtightness. Forces of nature has a minimal effect on Holz100 structures as it has survived numerous earthquakes in Japan without any damage, has defied the strongest storms in German coastal regions, suffering no major flood damage and are easily habitable after flooding.
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As Holz100 is composed exclusively of unadulterated wood, it results in an indoor climate with no boundaries between the layers impermeable to vapor and humidity; hence why we offer a 50-year guarantee against mold and condensation. Holz100 is an oasis of well-being with perfectly natural thermal insulation, storage and buffering which brings pleasant warmth in winter and a comfortable coolness in summer. Holz100 also naturally stabilizes the temperature and humidity fluctuations and brings you high energy efficiency and low energy costs as its air tightness ensures any heat loss. It is an achievable dream for allergy sufferers because of the fungal resistance of the exclusive moonwood we use and its natural reduction in household dust.

Holz100 is the first building component system ever to receive a GOLD Cradle to Cradle certification as a material completely waste-free in its life cycle: a resource-efficient product which allows for reuse and avoid landfill waste. We use only solar energy and produce more energy than we use in the processing / manufacturing of our elements.
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Wood is durable, low maintenance, and ages gracefully over generations and centuries, making it a timeless product of increasing value. The built environment with Holz100 will enhance therapeutic experiences and impact the body’s ability to heal, rejuvenating and reviving your wellbeing – your home should be a place of learning and healing.

All product properties of Holz100 have been certified by renowned research institutions including the Universities in Vienna and Graz, University of the Bundeswehr in Munich, Fraunhofer Institute Stuttgart, Institute for Fire Protection and Safety Research in Linz. At first glance, these improvements and possibilities are nearly unbelievable. We combined our ancestors’ traditional methods with modern technology and found the ultimate solution needed in the 21st century. We are focused on raising its standards and efficiency in order to fulfill the clients’ needs and wishes and to be able to actively maneuver in the potential markets in which it has been our privilege and pride to implement hundreds of projects all over the world.


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Wide Holz100 planks made exclusively of 100% pure moonwood
Summary of Benefits:

  • 100% pure, solid wood
  • 0% VOCs, toxins/chemicals, glue, off-gassing & preservatives
  • 50-year guarantee against mold and condensation
  • Certified by FSC and PEFC
  • Certified GOLD in Cradle to Cradle
  • World record in heat insulation for building materials (λ = 0.079 W/m²K)
  • Prefabricated = save time and cost (up to 1,500 sq.ft / day)
  • Highly versatile & customizable
  • Up to 95% reduction in energy use (passive house values)
  • Storm, flood and earthquake resistant
  • Wood naturally provides an ideal indoor climate in temperature and humidity
  • Soundproofing up to 63 dB
  • Airtightness up to 0.6 ACH50
Recommended For:

  • Residential Buildings
  • Passive Homes
  • Villas
  • Cottages
  • Daycares
  • Schools/Institutions
  • Libraries
  • Senior Homes
  • Hospitals
  • Spas
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Highrises
  • Recreation Centers
  • Shopping Centers
  • Business Offices
  • Studios
  • Greenhouses
  • Religious Buildings
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Top fire resistance up to F180
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Exclusive use of high quality timber: 
​'moonwood' harvesting in high altitudes

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^"WOODCUBE", This first high-rise building class 5 was built entirely of wood (Holz100) and without gypsum encapsulation. Deemed a 'Smart Material House' by IBA Hamburg, Woodcube holds passive house energy standards, is carbon neutral, and provides incredible health benefits for its residents.

​Important Links & PDFs

Company Website | www.holz100canada.com


"Make it Wood" by Planet Ark
A great resource for research on wood and its health benefits

WOODCUBE - Smart Material House
An introduction, outline, and details of the award-winning Holz100 project (IBA Hamburg)

Holz100 Canada Booklet 2017
A comprehensive introduction booklet to our building system, by Holz100 Canada Inc.

Holz100 Parts Catalogue 2017
An extensive catalogue of all available Holz100 elements, including technical information.


More Resources | Links & Downloads

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CONTACT US
Phone
(416) 876-3388

Email
​admin@holz100canada.com

Hours
Monday to Friday
​9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Address
240 Duncan Mill Road, Suite #500
Toronto, ON M3B 3S6
Canada

Come visit us at our office!

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Waste-Free Life Cycle of Holz100 Buildings

12/15/2017

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​Building with the forest:
Everything remains valuable


​In the production of Holz100 homes, everything remains valuable. This concept of waste-free recycling economy provides us with a sustainable, growing forest. 
Holz100 opens up new dimensions of sustainable construction with the first true circulation concept in the construction industry.
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​Since 1990, Thoma has been developing building materials that not only have a positive impact on the health of the residents, but also on the environment. The Thoma company relies on natural wood.

Holz100 is an award-winning solid wood building system and was the first building material in the world to be awarded the gold "Cradle to Cradle" certificate. It consists of nothing but untreated wood that has been harvested to the proper lunar phase and is completely free of toxic additives such as glue, chemicals, or wood preservatives.

Wood treated with glue or wood preservatives is not only harmful to the health of the residents of the house due to its outgassing, it must also be disposed of as hazardous waste in case of demolition. However, this is not so for Holz100 homes. It is completely natural and can be reused after generations of use both thermally and materially.

To recycle a Holz100 house you only have to dissolve the mechanical connections that hold the house together. With the raw materials released, a new house can be built.

Holz100 homes are prefabricated in factories that run on solar power in which no waste is produced. In the production of our Holz100 walls, all processing is optimized so that almost no waste is produced here as well. The small amount of waste that may be produced can be thermally recovered and immediately supply the production plants with energy.
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As it is in the forest, everything stays in circulation and we can create a future suitable for grandchildren.

Raw materials in the cycle

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​Even when laying the individual components, care is taken to ensure that as little as possible of the precious raw material wood is lost. Window and door openings are recessed.
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​A farmer from the surrounding area of ​​our Holz100 plant in Stadl picks wood chips from the production of our houses. "The chips are perfect for mucking out my stables - they are dry and pure in nature!"
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​It does not look like this with us! The waste from the wood glue binder production would have to be disposed of as hazardous waste as shown above. Our factories however, are devoid of and encounter no such problem.


​Energy generation then and now

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​The steam engine that drove the saw Gußwerk 1907 is still standing. It is no longer in operation.
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Today, a highly efficient biomass cogeneration plant supplies the saw and the village of Gußwerk with green electricity. Small remainders from the Holz100 production are also used to generate energy.
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The Ultimate Solution to Green Building

9/26/2017

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Solid wood is not only the safest material when it comes to fire, flood or earthquakes, but it also protects its inhabitants from all kinds of harmful, high frequency electromagnetic waves. It completely stops, for example, mobile phone frequencies. This has been confirmed by research conducted by the Bundeswehr University in Munich.

It has also been found that wood is best suited for the construction of rooms with the highest level of surveillance protection required as well. Thanks to this finding, Dr. Thoma's company has received a number of orders to build various structures for the German army.
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The Forsthofalm Hotel
​This seven-floor hotel is built completely out of Holz100 – 100% pure wood. It proves day by day the incredible static strength of this natural, raw material. More so, there is even a huge swimming pool located on the seventh floor which boasts a open-air panoramic view of surrounding mountains. Starting from the day that its foundation was laid, the time that it took to officially open its doors only took 2 months.
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The Filmarchiv-Austria
​This is the Austrian, state-of-the-art film archive, which houses 70,000 historical nitro-film reels. Fumes from the film erode rebars in reinforced concrete and therefore wood becomes most suitable for this purpose. This archive requires no external sources of electricity, and the constantly monitored temperature is at 3 degrees Celsius throughout the year as fluctuations are unacceptable in this case. In the summer, the facade warms up to an average temperature of twenty degrees Celsius from the outside and only a small, solar-powered air conditioner is at work.

To obtain such a result, the building has been modeled after a red ant forest anthill.
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The larval hatching chamber at the center of the mound is exceptionally resistant to variations in outdoor temperatures. For this purpose, a research project was created, which involved the best BMW specialists in engine thermodynamics. It turned out that wood has two completely unique thermodynamic properties. 1 kg of wood accumulates 2.5 times as much heat as 1 kilogram of stone, and the time required to change its temperature is much longer than any other natural, raw material.
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​This is the Haramura church near Fukushima in Japan which withstood a well-known earthquake for its destruction. Moreover, it is capable of surviving typhoons of up to 200 km per hour. One should know that for concrete, it is irreversibly damaged once it passes breaking point. Wood, on the other hand, flexes, shifts into the elastic phase, and then returns to its original form.
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​In 2012, Dr. Thoma's company built an energy self-efficient 5-floor commercial wooden building in Hamburg. This is ArcheNEO in Oberndorf, Tirol. A 6,600 square meter office complex, in which tenants’ leases state that they will not have to pay even a penny for heating throughout the year. The whole complex is built out of wood and not a trace of chemicals were used. Its temperature is regulated by heat pumps powered by photovoltaic batteries located on the roof.
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100% Pure Wood = No Moisture, No Mold

9/12/2017

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​Absence of glue between layers create microscopic air gaps. There are additional air channels between some layers, allowing for improved thermal insulation. In this field, it has been so far assumed that the highest heat transfer coefficient (U-value) that wood can achieve is 0.14. However, this is true for glue laminated wood. Unglued and mechanically linked walls of Dr. Thoma have achieved a result twice as efficient; a U-value of 0.078. As such, a 36 cm thick Holz100 wall would provide a similar insulation to a 75 cm thick, solid, glue-laminated wooden wall (CLT) or a 10 m thick reinforced concrete wall.

Leaving out chemicals and toxins in the processing of Holz100 surprisingly led it to break the world record in thermal insulation for building materials. The results were so unbelievable that initially the Frauenhofer Institute in Stuttgart denied to issue a certificate. Over time, both the Frauenhofer and the Graz Technical University confirmed the results and issued relevant certificates.

The U value does not tell us everything, however; it turns out to be a poor manipulation created to favor thermal insulation manufacturers. In a laboratory experiment at the University of Graz, three walls with identical heat transfer coefficients were compared: an internally insulated prefabricated wall made of gypsum and particle board; a brick wall with Polystyrene insulation; and a 30 cm solid wood wall (holz100). The test room was at a room temperature without heating, and the outside temperature was -10 degrees Co. The test measured the time, in which the internal wall would reach 0 degrees Co. To reach 0 Co, It took 2 days for the prefab wall, the insulated brick wall took 10 days, and finally the solid wood wall (holz100) required over a month of time.

Moisture is yet another problem in construction. Water vapor and condensation is such a difficult issue that no company in the world can guarantee construction materials free of condensation and mold growth for more than 5 years. Lower Saxony's research has revealed recently that 80% of all homes equipped with styrofoam thermal insulation have developed mildew between the wall and the styrofoam. Mold is one of the worst poisons of all that can toxicate residential buildings.

Dr. Thoma guarantees his Holz100 houses for 50 years against moisture and mold. He has already built over 1000 houses in 33 countries, from the tropics to the Arctic Circle and, so far, has not received a single complaint.
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Foreword by US Architect Gordon R. Pierce

8/18/2017

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Holz100: The Ultimate Green Building Material
Holz100: The Ultimate Green Building Material


to Dr. Erwin Thoma's book, "A Future with Natural Wood"

Wow. Definition:
Exclamation: expressing astonishment or admiration
Noun: a sensational success
Verb: to impress and excite (someone) greatly


This informal word best expresses the reaction I share with all those who understand and appreciate the significance of Erwin Thoma's creation - Holz100. In this, his first book translated into English, you will find interesting and amusing stories that reveal Erwin's wealth of knowledge regarding trees, forests and wood. Perhaps, for some readers, this book will contain more information than they imagined possible for such subjects. For others, this will be a welcome introduction to wood-related subjects and an inspiration for a future using natural wood. Written in a colloquial style, it offers an insight into his humble genius.

For any advocate of environmentalism, this book should not only help clear up those myths regarding the use of wood as a building material but also reinforce the fact that this totally sustainable, natural resource, when used responsibly, is the best alternative to all other construction materials.

As an architect, I wish to highlight one aspect of this book that explains the remarkable building system invented and manufactured by Erwin that has won numerous awards and a loyal following in Europe.

I met Erwin for the first time about ten years ago. I heard about his company that manufactured a structural building system using 100% wood. It was advertised to have no glues, toxic chemicals, resins or mechanical fasteners. It was so well engineered that one could build multi-story buildings out of it or construct a single-family house in only days, not months.

Then I began to learn about the rest of the "wow;" the thermal mass of the product providing comfort to the occupants while greatly reducing energy costs; persons with allergies could live in these buildings without suffering from hidden toxins or allergens; sound attenuation was remarkable; hotels and spas built from this material were receiving rave reviews from guests who slept better, were more relaxed and enjoyed the smell of the forest unique to Holz100 buildings. Finally, I learned that the manufacturing process was equally astonishing in that it recycles its waste wood in special clean-burn furnaces that, with supplemental solar panels, create more than enough electricity and heat to operate the facility.

So here I was introduced to a major structural building system based on ancient construction techniques, using state-of-the-art technology, and with a totally sustainable source of material as its basic ingredient - produced "off the grid" no less. This is truly the ultimate "cradle to cradle" product.

I expect to see this wonderful system produced in the United States in the coming years as its unique qualities - described thoughtfully and passionately in these pages - comes to the attention of builders, developers, architects and homeowners looking for the ultimate green building material.
​
- Gordon R. Pierce, Architect

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Holz100: The Ultimate Building Solution

8/17/2017

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Holz100 - An Energy Efficient Wood Home
Holz100 - An Energy Efficient Wood Home

"The realization of my dream to create the very best buildings in the world is the development of our prefabricated solid Holz100 House. A good energy-efficient home should not only be comfortable, natural and healthy. It needs to have excellent ratings regarding insulation (heat, cold, acoustic, electromagnetic radiation), fire safety, and air conditioning." - Dr. Erwin Thoma

We found wood has many hidden qualities and we developed a traditional building technique into a new and healthy 'High Tech' innovation. The name means pure, 100% wood, nothing added. With a Holz100 house, walls, ceilings and roof are made of large, solid and prefabricated wooden panels which can be erected in a very short space of time. These elements are made of untreated wood, no glues, laminates, or nails.

To build with Holz100 elements results in high-performance ratings which previously were thought of as impossible.

Holz100 elements consist of boards and battens which, piece by piece, are lying horizontally next to each other making up the size of the panel. The second layer is stacked diagonally, the third layer vertically and so on. These layers form elements as thick as is required for walls, ceilings and floors.

The question now is how to keep them together and end up with cohesive building elements. The solution lies in wood itself.

As early as antiquity itself and at the time of ancient Egypt, large blocks of rock were exploded and split by swelling wood. Lacking explosives and machinery, people fitted bone-dry wooden dowels into holes and cracks. Then, they just added water. Dry wood absorbs the moisture and expands. This irresistibly strong force even splits granite boulders. It is one of the strongest forces in nature and we harness it for our Holz100 elements.

Holes are drilled through all the element's layers, each consisting of individual battens lying next to each other. Then kiln-dried wooden dowels are driven into the neatly fitting holes. Even in dry climates a wooden wall always retains rest moisture (ranging from 6% to 15% relative moisture content). The moisture of the surrounding wood is absorbed by the dowel which swells and expands tightly into its hole. Because no room climate anywhere in the world can be as dry as in a kiln, this joint can't ever be dissolved other than by drilling it out.

Because the layers are stacked crisscross, the patented Holz100 element is solid. It can be rendered, tiled or painted. The advantages of building with purely natural, untreated wood are mainly in the following areas:

Fire Safety
Warmth and Noise Insulation
Air Conditioning
Cooling Down Time
Radiation Shielding
Earthquake Safety

Scientific tests, publications and building certifications were undertaken at several different universities and institutes in Austria, Germany, Norway, Japan and USA which are now available through the Erwin Thoma Research Centre.

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