Wood is the only 100% natural material used in construction since the beginning of time. Now several studies show how wood is good for health, living in an environment with wood has benefits that we could not imagine.
We spend 90% of our time inside buildings and vehicles. However, many of today’s buildings still create problems such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression, and lung diseases.
According to a survey conducted by Saint Gobain, 90% of respondents responded that they wanted to live in a house that did not compromise their health and well-being and a third of these respondents said they would be willing to pay more money in order to live in a house healthy.
Living in a house that is beneficial to health implies numerous aspects to consider regarding design and materials. At this point, wood comes into play, which has demonstrated through the following tests the health benefits: –
According to an Austrian study, children who spent the day in classes in a building constructed of wood and in contact with wood, reduced 8,600 beats per day and per child. This study also showed that being in a wood-based environment helps significantly reduce stress levels. –
Office workers with wooden interiors have transmitted feelings of innovation, energy, and comfort.
- A Japanese study found that exposure to wood panels significantly lowers blood pressure, while exposure to steel panels increases it. – Another Japanese study found that wooden furniture helped increase interaction among residents.
- According to another survey of Saint Gobain, when a person is in an ecological building increases their cognitive capacity by 61%.
- This cognitive capacity increased to 101% when additional vents were introduced.
- Wood relaxes the human sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS is responsible for stress responses and increased blood pressure and heart rate.
- It has also been shown that wood products in a room improve indoor air quality due to the ability of wood to regulate humidity.