This story is part of a collaboration with Rocky Mountain Community Radio focusing on the transition away from fossil fuels across the Mountain West.
As the climate continues to dry and warm across Colorado, fire mitigation efforts such as forest thinning are becoming more important. But the wood often ends up in a landfill or otherwise wasted.
One company in Durango called Timber Age Systems is working to change that using cross-laminated timber, or CLT. Sarah Flower of KSUT visited their facility to learn more.
Key takeaways:
- Timber Age is working with smaller trees, beetle-killed material and other wood that doesn’t always meet commercial needs.
- Buildings based on CLT can be up to 80% more efficient than traditional construction materials such as steel and concrete.
Listen above for the full story.