The project Wood Life: Energy-efficient living spaces through the use of wooden interior elements received funding for four years from the Aalto Energy Efficiency Research Programme in spring 2013. The overall aim of the project is to substantially increase the whole-of-life energy efficiency of housing, through the greater use of wood-based, and other plant-derived, materials. The project has a highly interdisciplinary approach and brings together five separate research groups from three Aalto Schools: Wood Material Properties, Surface Science, Thermodynamics, User Experiences and Spatial Design. This poster describes the main idea of the project and invites possible co-operation partners to share their ideas for synergetic research themes.
The aim of the project is to investigate new ways of integrating the unique material properties of wood and other plant-derived materials, modified as appropriate, into the fabric of dwellings so as to increase the overall energy-efficiency of living. To achieve improvements in energy efficiency, the project will adopt a two-pronged approach. Firstly, substantial improvements in energy efficiency will be sought through a combination of spatial design and the use of wood materials and wood surfaces that will reduce energy costs for space heating. Secondly, the project will investigate whether improvements in energy efficiency can be achieved by taking into account the users’ perspectives both with regard to the perception of various wooden materials and spaces, as well as in terms of the attractiveness of different wooden products and the use of wood in interior spaces.
Keywords: energy efficiency, user perspective, wooden interiors
Authors
Vahtikari K.
Department of Forest Product Technology, Aalto University, Aalto
Hughes M.
Department of Forest Product Technology, Aalto University, Aalto
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