More than 50 years after the historic report “The Limits to Growth”. Clubs of Rome The measures deemed necessary in the study to preserve resources are being implemented with increasing determination. The climate crisis certainly contributed to this, because the consequences of global warming caused by the anthropogenic greenhouse effect could not yet be fully understood by the expert team and were treated as a marginal phenomenon in the report.

What is revolutionary in the EU, for example, is the end of the internal combustion engine from 2035 and the plan to become climate neutral by 2050. The push for energy efficiency affects all actors, from the business world to politics to individuals. It is therefore not surprising that the issue of sustainability is also a top priority when constructing buildings. Regardless of the extent to which the current construction crisis is caused by the new bureaucratic chaos combined with the already abundant old bureaucratic regulations, we give advice on sustainable construction.

The cornucopia of financing

Sustainable construction is associated with numerous requirements, but also with numerous financing. Builders can count on generous subsidies for home loans. We therefore strongly recommend that you take financing into account when looking for a financier. With a Construction loan from Baufi24 Men also benefit from the advantages of a supplier comparison that reliably filters the most attractive offers based on specified parameters.

The type of heating

According to the Federal Environment Agency, on average 73% of the energy used in buildings is used for heating. The importance of one of them is therefore great ecological Heating system for the house. This is especially true according to the recently adopted Building Energy Act, according to which every heating system must obtain at least 65 percent of its energy from renewable sources during transition periods of between 5 and 13 years. Heat pumps, pellet stoves and solar heaters are suitable for this purpose.

Durability of building materials

In addition to their longevity, sustainable building materials are characterized by their biodegradability after use. In addition, they can be produced with little energy expenditure. It’s also sustainable if the materials can regrow naturally. Wood is considered an environmentally friendly material whose ecological impact can be further increased in the case of regional products without long transport routes. Ideally, the wood comes from the manufacturer with the appropriate quality labels such as The blue angel, Natureplus, EcoPlus, BioBau And DGNB approved.

Besides wood, sustainable building materials include clay, cork, natural stone, reed, gravel, jute, chalk paint, natural varnish and limestone panels. Thermal insulation materials that can be chosen include cellulose, cotton, sheep wool, linen, hemp, jute, reed, straw, expanded clay, perlite, coconut fiber, mineral insulation boards, cellulose composite elements, Kentucky bluegrass, reed and Napier grass. . They are all characterized by a good insulating value (pay attention to the Rd value!) and an excellent ecological balance sheet.

Thermal insulation has many faces

Another principle of sustainable construction is thermal insulation. All thermal insulation methods aim to store the necessary heating energy in the building for as long as possible, which significantly reduces energy requirements. When it comes to thermal insulation, we differentiate between roof, facade and basement insulation. Roof insulation can be carried out above, between rafters and under rafters. In the case of rafter insulation, the insulating materials are attached from the outside.

Although this is the most efficient method, it is so labor-intensive and so comprehensive that it is only good for new construction or complete renovations. Insulating between rafters requires much less effort because you only need to attach the insulating materials between the rafters, which is done from the inside. This is a cost-effective solution and better suited to existing buildings. To increase energy efficiency, it can be easily combined with under-rafter insulation, in which the insulating materials are installed under the roof rafters.

Window compaction

Windows are the bottleneck of thermal insulation, because if the windows leak, all the thermal insulation is of no use. To ensure optimal window sealing, it is recommended to use triple-glazed windows with a low U-value. Window roller shutters often have a high energy permeability. Homeowners put an end to this problem with roller shutter insulation mats, which can be used to compact the permeable roller shutter box. Window frames, reveals and spacers are also compacted.

Use of natural energy

Natural energy sources can be used in a variety of ways. Large windows on the sunny side are simple but effective. With a Photovoltaic system The owners themselves become energy producers and, thanks to a barrel or a cistern, they can use rainwater and conserve public water resources. The natural greenery on the roof and garage not only looks beautiful and provides flora and fauna with a new habitat. It also helps support thermal insulation measures.

Image source: Roman Synkevich on Unsplash.com