Abstract
The main goal of this study was to review current studies on the state of the art of wood
constructions with a particular focus on energy efficiency, which could serve as a valuable source
of information for both industry and scholars. This review begins with an overview of the role of
materials in wood buildings to improve energy performance, covering structural and insulation
materials that have already been successfully used in the market for general applications over the
years. Subsequently, studies of different wood building systems (i.e., wood-frame, post-and-beam,
mass timber and hybrid constructions) and energy efficiency are discussed. This is followed by a
brief introduction to strategies to increase the energy efficiency of constructions. Finally, remarks and
future research opportunities for wood buildings are highlighted. Some general recommendations for
developing more energy-efficient wood buildings are identified in the literature and discussed. There
is a lack of emerging construction concepts for wood-frame and post-and-beam buildings and a lack
of design codes and specifications for mass timber and hybrid buildings. From the perspective of the
potential environmental benefits of these systems as a whole, and their effects on energy efficiency
and embodied energy in constructions, there are barriers that need to be considered in the future.