We make all of our custom built doors and windows out of sustainable timber and special weatherproof glass that we have made specially for us at a facility in WA.
We have explained why we love timber so much in the past. Timber looks great, it is an insulator and it is a great transition between nature and man-made buildings. It is a solid material that will often last the entire life of the home itself. It seals much better than materials like aluminium. And if it needs to be repaired, it can usually happen without having to replace an entire door or window.
But have you ever stopped to think why we only use timber from sustainable sources? Why does it matter so much to us? Why do we think it should matter so much to you? To know why, you need to know what sustainable timber is and how it benefits not only you, but all of Australia and the entire world.
Climate Change
It’s become painfully obvious that climate change represents a great danger to us as Australians. It seems like every summer is hotter than the last one. Bushfires have been on the rise. This is bad, but there is even a worse danger: the polar icecaps are melting at record rates. Many reports indicate this is happening at a rate more alarming than even the most pessimistic of projections.
The generally accepted number of Australians living within 50 km of the shoreline is 85%. We don’t know how that breaks down with people in immediate danger of flooding, but it is safe to say there are a lot of people living right on the shore. There are also a lot of businesses there. A rise of even one foot in ocean levels would cause catastrophic loss of homes and businesses.
Our Government estimates that a rise of 1.1 metres would cause $63 billion in property damage. It also mentions that rising oceans will create more “inundation events” when larger storms occur. Our oceans are now rising at a rate of 3.2 mm per year, up from 1.7 mm per year between 1993 and 2010.
By the time your toddlers have their own children, sea level will have risen more than those 1.1 metres if the current trend isn’t reversed.
Carbon Footprint
So, what does sustainable forestry have to do with it? Climate change is being caused by greenhouse gases being introduced into our environment. The most reliable measurement is the “carbon footprint.” This measures the amount of carbon a person or process is introducing into the environment.
Materials like aluminium have large carbon footprints due to the manufacturing process. Sustainable timber, on the other hand, has a negative carbon footprint because timber stores carbon.
Carbon Storage
When we breathe, our bodies use the oxygen and exhale CO2. When trees “breathe,” they turn carbon into timber fibres and “exhale” oxygen. This not only stores carbon, it makes our environment more oxygen-rich.
But it only works when timber is harvested responsibly. When trees are cut down from forests and not replanted, it interrupts the cycle. Less and less carbon is being stored and less fresh oxygen is being introduced into the environment.
When timber is produced on a sustainable plantation, every tree is replanted. Trees are harvested after their peak periods of carbon storage are over. Then they are replaced by new trees that store carbon at a faster rate. This cycle promotes carbon storage and increases the oxygen content of our environment.
Responsibly Sourced Custom Built Doors and Windows
We don’t harbour any illusions that we are going to save the entire world or even Australia by doing what we’re doing. But what we do hope to do is set an ethical example for homeowners and businesses. Small symbolic gestures can spread around the world if enough people believe in them.
Our customers become our friends and neighbours. We want them and their children to have a better world to live in than we have. And that’s why we do our part.
If you would like to learn more or want to talk about custom built doors and windows, call Fremantle Door & Window today: (08) 6500 6888.