Wood's Heat Conductivity - Wood is 400-times less heat conductive than steel and 8.5 times less conductive than concrete, so homes built with wood framing take less energy to heat and cool.

Steel's Heat Conductivity - Like the fins on a radiator, sheet metal studs transfer large amounts of heat to the outside air during winter. They also transfer cold inside during summer. The movement of cold into a house through the framing is called thermal bridging . Thermal bridging increases energy consumption. To prevent this, steel framing requires extra insulation on the outside sheathing which can add significantly to building costs. The heat loss through steel framing can also result in lower temperatures where the steel contacts interior walls resulting in ghosting (paint discoloration).

Building Codes - Wood construction can meet the energy codes of all climates. In extreme climates like Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, the adoption of double wood-frame wall systems keeps homeowners warm when temperatures drop in winter to -40ºF. New energy code requirements in several European countries have prompted a switch from traditional masonry construction to wood.

Forests are home to roughly two thirds of the 140,000 species of plants, animals and invertebrates estimated to occur in Canada.