Whether you’re renovating or building a home, it’s important to understand the benefits and comforts an eco-friendly home can offer. Healthy, welcoming, and energy-efficient environments are the cornerstones of green building, along with the benefits of improving the well-being of the surrounding environment. When trying to build a home with high energy efficiency, many focus primarily on solar panels, but this isn’t the only solution available. It’s possible to limit a building’s environmental impact by using eco-friendly construction materials, which can reduce the pollution your home produces.
What are the advantages of eco-sustainable materials?
In addition to those already mentioned, eco-sustainable materials are advantageous for construction because:
They have good energy-saving and heat-retaining properties;
They have good structural reliability, thanks to the material’s mechanical properties. The more resistant the material, the fewer renovations will be required;
They contain no substances harmful to health;
They have chemical stability and low emissivity, thus reducing environmental pollution and preventing gas formation;
They are made using natural and recycled materials, available locally;
They are recyclable and easy to dispose of;
They ensure maximum living comfort and avoid problems and critical health risks.
What are the main eco-sustainable materials for construction?
The use of glass in architecture has led, over time, to the creation and design of “special” glass systems suited to sustainable architecture. Among these are low-emissivity, solar control, and selective glass.
Wood is perhaps one of the most widely used and appreciated materials. It is the key element of BIO design. The choice of this material is linked not only to its being the oldest building material, but also to its durability, tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength. Furthermore, wood is used to create panels, which also serve as excellent insulating elements: a factor not to be underestimated when it comes to energy savings.
Bio-bricks are porous brick blocks, or lightweight bricks, made with rice husks, cellulose, or wood flour, obtained from a traditional mixture of clay, sand, and water. This material guarantees high thermal and acoustic comfort, vapor permeability, and fire and frost resistance. There are different types of bio-bricks: those made from a mix of hemp and lime, eco-friendly bricks made from straw and wood, or recycled glass.
Cork is another highly sustainable material. Its use in construction is associated with insulation: it is a powerful natural thermal insulator, biodegradable, sound-absorbent, and ideal for limiting and preventing moisture infiltration.
Hemp is an extremely versatile natural material in the construction industry: it can be used to make bricks, paints, enamels, panels, and much more. Its outstanding characteristics include its ability to resist mold and insects, as well as its high breathability and fire resistance. It is an excellent insulating material, both thermally and acoustically, so much so that it is used to make panels for insulating attics, walls, or floors.
Straw is a plant-based material with a low environmental impact. It is used in construction to improve thermal and acoustic comfort and regulate humidity levels. It is also a fireproof material, thanks to its dense and compact structure.
Natural paints are toxic-free, lime- and silicate-based colors that do not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the confined space. Therefore, they do not alter air quality or contribute to indoor pollution. Furthermore, they are odorless and highly breathable. Therefore, they do not affect the humidity-regulating properties of building structures and are perfect for ensuring the healthiness of walls and, consequently, indoor environments.
Sheep’s wool is an eco-sustainable material used for insulation. Made from sheep’s wool, it is also environmentally friendly in its production as it uses little energy. It is safe for the environment and for people. This type of insulation also has the ability to absorb pollutants present in indoor air, is fireproof, and easily recyclable after demolition.
These are just some of the new eco-sustainable materials suitable for green building. Some are already well-known and used for some time in new construction, others are increasingly gaining popularity. For any further information, the Inside Project team is at your disposal. Contact us without obligation.