What are the real benefits of sustainable construction?
All the media extol the virtues of sustainable construction and eco-construction. But what is it really about? And is this type of construction really a solution for the future of our environment? Here is some information on architecture that is more respectful of nature, but also smarter.
What is sustainable construction?
Sustainable construction has several names. You will also see it mentioned under the terms of eco-construction and green building. This method of construction aims high-end energy performance and reduced environmental impact.
It is about actively thinking about the choice of materials, the energy used and the waste it will produce. Sustainable construction has become an essential step in dealing with global warming and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. By committing in a sustainable construction, builders select high-performance materials that do not have a negative effect on the environment. It is also essential to favor a very good thermal and acoustic insulation.
Eco-construction standards
For a construction to be considered sustainable, it must meet certain regulations and validate requirements in terms of the fight against global warming and pollution. French standards are governed by the Grenelle laws. To be sure that a construction is durable, it is possible to trust certain standards:
- with the BBC : Low Consumption Building is very efficient heating and cold insulation.
- HQE : Haute Qualité Environnementale (Haute Qualité Environnementale) is a French concept associated with the NF Ouvrage Démarche HQE certification. This approach reduces the impact on the environment during the works and guarantees a well-heated construction.
- ISO 15392 2008 This standard ensures that the principles of sustainable development are respected throughout the construction and life of the building.
What are the benefits of sustainable construction?
Is sustainable construction really that interesting for both our environment and our wallet? The more years go by, the more efficient technologies and materials become. Sustainable construction is no longer in its infancy since it began about fifteen years ago. By choosing to embark on a sustainable construction, you benefit from real advantages.
A step for our environment
Sustainable construction helps reduce our impact on the environment. The choice of materials must be taken into consideration for their consequences on nature, both in terms of their manufacture and their lifespan. They must be produced without polluting and must not be polluting either once they have reached the end of their life.
The materials are also chosen for the proximity of the companies that produce them, their renewable aspect and the ability to recycle them. Processes that use these materials are also more sustainable, favoring renewable energies and the economy of natural resources. It is also necessary to take into account the position of the building, the land on which it is built and the exposure it enjoys. Thus, it is a question of using the heat of the sun to the maximum and of protecting a facade very exposed to the cold and the wind.
And for the inhabitants or occupants of sustainable buildings?
Sustainable construction is a real breakthrough for building occupants. The environment is much healthier, because non-polluting materials do not emit harmful dust or gases. The indoor air quality is much better.
Sustainable buildings are also more comfortable, with a very good sound insulation that guarantees calm and serenity. You also benefit from optimal thermal insulation to reduce energy consumption for heating and provide pleasant ambient heat in all rooms. Energy bills are also a real advantage of this method of construction. The savings no longer go up in smoke with the wrongly adjusted heating or heating the outside of the house.
Healthier materials and better insulators
New thinking on our way of life and construction has come up against materials which had become too polluting or which were not efficient enough to guarantee good insulation. Raw material manufacturers have therefore imagined new materials that meet the demanding standards of sustainable construction. The insulation of a building is a pillar of well-being in a house.
This is one of the strengths of sustainable construction. It is live more in harmony with the environment without making the choice of a more precarious life. The selected materials are better ventilated, healthier and retain both heat in winter and coolness on hot days. By choosing smarter materials, you greatly reduce your energy consumption and no longer need as much heating.
Materials are better insulators and sustainable construction provides a more natural heat thanks to the sun's rays or geothermal energy. Fossil fuels are no longer at the center of our constructions. Out of durable construction, the materials are designed to use the insulating power of air. Thus, they are often hollow in order to form a natural barrier against cold and heat. The material that uses the air insulator thus offers real thermal and acoustic performance.
The sustainable house, a global and harmonious project
Sustainable construction is an approach that must be comprehensive. The procedures and decision-making must correspond to the requirements of the environmental standards. By choosing local materials and builders, we reinvent the network of the territory. Local craftsmen are made to work and materials do not cross the world anymore to get to the construction site.
It's a fairly complex process, but one that offers real satisfaction and provides more lasting comfort. It is possible that the budget of your construction envelope is more important than for a traditional construction. However, you should know that the durable good is profitable after 5 to 10 years thanks to energy savings and less maintenance in the long term.
Muchas gracias por compartir estos beneficiaries de la construcción sostenible. Excellent artículo y sin duda muchos beneficios. Excelente artículo