Apart from using less energy to heat, a timber frame home uses less energy to build, because wood grows naturally, needing only minimal energy to fell, mill, transport and construct. By contrast, the production of concrete blocks and steel beams takes a great deal of energy and creates unwanted pollution.

Using more wood is a good way to help reduce the growth of global warming because wood is a renewable building material; as trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, giving out the oxygen we breathe.

As well as energy savings, building in timber frame saves CO2. During 2005, about 50,000 timber frame units were built in the UK saving approximately 200,000 tonnes of CO2, equal to the emissions from 70,000 small cars each driving 10,000 miles.

"You too can help save the environment"