University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are working to determine whether Hawaiʻi-grown eucalyptus could become a reliable source of lumber for construction, helping reduce the state’s reliance on imported building materials while supporting healthier forests.
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are working to determine whether Hawaiʻi-grown eucalyptus could become a reliable source of lumber for construction, helping reduce the state’s reliance on imported building materials while supporting healthier forests.
The project, led by Jun Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, received a $300,000 USDA Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant to establish the engineering standards needed for eucalyptus to be used in structural applications.
Establishing Construction Possibilities
Although Hawaiʻi has more than 34,000 acres of managed eucalyptus plantations, the wood is rarely used in construction because engineers and builders lack the design data needed to certify it for structural use. If successful, the research could create new opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s forestry and wood products industries while reducing shipping costs, supply chain risks and carbon emissions associated with importing lumber. Researchers also say putting more eucalyptus to use could encourage better forest management by reducing excess wood that can contribute to wildfire fuel.
Read More: University of Hawaii
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