El green building concept is quite newBut the truth is that we have been worrying about the problem of the environment, pollution and global warming for a long time. At present, there is more and more progress towards a sustainable world with ideas like these, with houses made as bio-construction.
Let's see what this concept of green building is, in what are these ecological houses and why they are a good idea to invest in if we are looking for inspiration to make a house. The current models are really functional and have a great aesthetic.
What is a bio-construction
A bioconstruction is a building, establishment or house that has been built using materials that are not harmful to the environment nor do they have elements that are toxic to people or nature. As we can imagine, this type of construction uses recycled, ecological, natural and even plant-based materials or that are biocompatible, to avoid damage to the environment or people. It is one of the most sustainable options when building any space, choosing among the many materials that are currently available that are compatible with the environment.
Bases of green building
Green building is not limited to use ecological materials in constructions, but also takes into account the environment in which they must be integrated, that is why a series of principles have been created for this type of buildings. The location is one of the most important, since we must choose a place where we are far from sources that can become toxic. It is useless to make a bio house if we are in a place that will damage our health. In other words, you have to stay away from places near factories where there is air or water pollution, radiation sources or power lines and transformers.
In bioconstruction, the integration with the environment. Not so many years ago the houses were made with the materials available in each area, hence we saw places with stone houses and with slate or even straw roofs. Today this is also an important issue, since using local resources minimizes the impact on the environment when building the house.
Must be think ahead the orientation and how the structure will be built to make the best use of natural light and the possibilities of the land. There are houses in which they even use geothermal energy to get resources such as hot water. In each case, an expert must be hired to analyze the possibilities of the area, its advantages and disadvantages, in order to get the most out of the new construction. From using the accumulation of water in places with streaks or with a lot of rains to putting solar panels to take advantage of this type of energy.
Energy type
Once we know what type of environment we have, we can know what energy we will use to make our home greener. In this case, you can choose between solar energy with panels, geothermal energy, biomass from forest residues, hydroelectric or wind energy.
Why choose a green building
Choosing natural materials in a home does not diminish its final quality, since today there are all kinds of materials and ways of working with them. Nor do you have to give up any comfort, as current bio-constructions are very complete. This type of building has the great advantage of being respectful with the environment and seek the least impact in a comprehensive way, that is, from all points of view of a house, not only focusing on materials. This way we will make sure that our home is totally suitable for the environment.
Types of materials used
In current bio-constructions there is a large catalog of materials to choose from. Of course, professionals who know how to work with them should be chosen so that the result is optimal, in fact there are already companies that work exclusively making this type of house. With these and other materials you can get sustainable houses with great detail.
In these houses you can use all kinds of recycled materials that come from glass or paper. For the structure you can use adobes, which are mixtures of clays, stone, blocks of pressed earth, wood or even bales of straw in blocks that are covered with a paste.
For home insulation Other natural materials are used such as fibers of vegetable origin such as coconut fiber, cellulose, cork or wood fiber. Sheep wool is also an insulation but of animal origin. Those of mineral origin are clay, perlite or vermiculite.