Of the conventional building materials, sustainably harvested timber has the potential to be the most environmentally friendly since it typically has the lowest emissions of greenhouse gases of any conventional building material. Since it is amongst the most commonly used materials for residential construction, responsible and sustainable timber can have a substantial impact on sustainable housing.

Timber is suitable for various types of constructions, and is commonly used without professional training since wood frame structures are relatively easy to assemble and repair. As a natural material, timber requires little energy to process, and very effectively stores carbon throughout the lifetime of a building.