Life cycle carbon and cost assessment comparing milled and whole timber truss systems and insulation options for affordable housing

Increasing demand for housing is one of the biggest challenges facing world. Affordable a key priority UK government in addressing this challenge, which calls innovative construction methods to address issue fuel poverty at an affordable cost. Timber-based modern are solutions resolve existing crisis while managing climate change. Therefore, paper presents case study “Integra House”, proof concept novel truss technology. The prototype that performs well both life cycle carbon and proposed uses timber technology makes up floor, walls roof house, thereby reducing on-site operations waste providing low-carbon low-cost design. underwent design optimisation evaluation options; workshop-based production performance elemental prototypes; full-scale dwelling prototype; comparison capital costs environmental impacts. Further, it simulation-based maximize its cost by replacing milled trusses with whole Rockwool insulation wood wool insulation. optimised option (whole timber) has EC 261kgCO2per m2 £682 per (excludes substructure, services fitout) operational 7.9 kgCO2 m2/annum £3.30 operate. Life two prototypes concluded outperformed aspects, 23% 30% respectively due being extremely inexpensive requiring minimal processing compared option.