Construction involves many costs, not only financially but also ecologically. Raw materials are not endlessly available, they are exhaustible. Hence the increasing attention to ‘sustainable building’. Concepts such as ‘CO2-neutral buildings’, ‘circular construction’, ‘EPC value’, ‘BEN standards’, ‘passive living’… These all refer to the concept of ‘sustainable construction’.
‘Sustainable construction’ is a broad term and has been used a lot lately, but what exactly does it mean? The principle of People, Planet, Profit is the mainstay of this concept. Sustainable construction means taking into account your surroundings, both people and the environment. It stands for living in a world that runs on clean, renewable energy and in which raw materials do not go to waste. Sustainable also refers to having a long lifespan.
Sustainable construction, how do you get started?
Sustainable construction is a process of making responsible choices. Everything starts, of course, with the design and location. The building site should be chosen carefully, for example close to public transportation so you can get around in an environmentally friendly way. The idea is to take up as little open space as possible, so best to live bundled in a village center or town. In addition, the method of construction is also very important. Attention should be paid to energy consumption and the materials used.
Which building materials?
It is best to choose natural building materials, because of this, wood is preferred because wood is one of the few building materials that replenishes itself. Moreover, wood is also an excellent insulator and can make a wall perfectly windproof. Some labels that take into account the entire life cycle of the product (technical performance, health effects and environmental impact) are VIBE, Natureplus, the European Ecolabel and the FSC label.
Energy-efficient construction
In addition, compact construction is essential. After all, compact buildings are the most energy efficient. An energy-efficient building starts with thorough insulation and high-efficiency glazing. Next, you can also use renewable energy sources such as solar energy through solar panels. For this, the orientation of your building is important. Make sure your workspaces face south to take full advantage of solar energy. When there is no other option but to use finite energy sources, it is important to use them as efficiently as possible.
Optimal water management
Pure water is often used for activities that do not require potable water such as flushing the toilet. We must be careful with this because pure water is a scarce resource. By collecting and reusing rainwater, you save money but also halve drinking water consumption.
Investing in sustainability pays off, that’s for sure!
In addition to the sometimes high costs associated with sustainable construction, there are obviously benefits as well. Some benefits include;
- Lower energy and water bills
- Less dependence on fossil fuels
- Improved quality of life: healthier living environment
- Right to premiums and subsidies
- Increased property value
- Environment wins
In short, it certainly pays to invest in sustainability. Are you interested in some scoops on sustainable construction? Then mark down 29 September in your agenda for our event at our partner KRC Genk. Here we can sample revolutionary building projects and network with real specialists. Definitely worth attending!