Are ecological houses really organic and energy efficient?

In our daily lives we try to cover all kinds of requirements that make our lives easier and more pleasant. Many of our actions have a direct impact on the environment and we consume energies that can damage our habitat during production.

The houses where we live have an unavoidable impact on the environment when they are built. They require materials whose manufacture and handling can generate an ecological impact. What is more, the expansion of cities restricts the capacity of action by expert architects when proposing more sustainable growth.

Fortunately, society now takes problems like climate change and energy saving into account and this helps in the search for more sustainable alternatives. Ecological houses offer us very interesting alternatives ways of life. Would you like to know more about this type of housing? Continue reading.

What is an ecological house?

Ecological houses are dwellings that offer the best conditions for construction and use so as to avoid environmental impact as much as possible. These dwellings are designed to be sustainable with the environment because they use environmentally non-aggressive materials during their manufacture. They are also designed so that the inhabitants can save on energy consumption as a result of the components and location.

The concept of an ecological house arose at the end of the 70s, when the American architect Edward Mazria published a book entitled Passive Solar Energy Book on how to combine the architecture of the home with renewable energies. The problems caused by pollution were already a matter of debate even then, and visions such as Mazria's represented a small step in the search for solutions in which the average citizen could feel involved through sustainable and clean housing.

The objective of these houses is to reduce energy expenditure to a minimum. This will enable us to avoid the generation of polluting waste by not having to process so much energy. Have you ever stopped to think about this? The possibility of avoiding the use of the heating and cooling systems that we know, or at least making very little use of them, would be a very important and positive change for our environment.

"Ecological houses are dwellings that offer the best conditions for construction and use so as to avoid environmental impact as much as possible."

Characteristics of an ecological house

What makes a house a green building? There are a number of issues involved in order to be able to catalogue a house as ecological. Here are some of the characteristics required. Compliance with these will enable us to guarantee that the house is ecological and will enable you to save energy and generate less pollution in its construction.

Materials

The first thing is for construction to begin with the clear intention of being sustainable and not causing any environmental impact, or at least as little as possible. For this, a very important factor is the use of recycled materials that generate very little waste.

Orientation and environment

Another important factor is to take into account their orientation and environment. If the house is in an area where there is a lot of sunshine, advantage should be taken of this. A house that collects a lot of natural light will not require excessive use of artificial lighting. This feature is known as bioclimatic design. Think about it. The neighbourhoods of the future will demonstrate a perfect combination between the landscape and the dwellings.

Thermal insulation

The sun also contributes to the temperature. If you are looking for a pleasant climate at home all year round, you really need good thermal insulation. This will enable you to keep the heat inside during the cold months, and for it to remain outside the house in the hottest months. These characteristics mean that you will not need to use artificial mechanisms for the temperature to be comfortable.

Energy efficiency

Finally, these dwellings attract our attention because of their ability to be self-sufficient in the use of energy. And this is always from clean and renewable sources. There is no doubt that these are ideal dwellings for personal and environmental well-being. Can you imagine a house whose operation is exclusively ecological and sustainable? We are getting closer every day.

Passive houses

There is another kind of construction that is similar to an ecological house. This are the so-called passive house. Both have a bioclimatic design. The difference is that, even though most of the characteristics for the construction of a passive house coincide with those for an ecological house, the former does not need to be built with ecological materials.

When we talk about ecological construction materials, wood is the most suitable alternative. It has a characteristic that makes it special: It is a hygroscopic material. What does this mean? Ecological wooden houses will always have ideal levels of humidity they are porous. For them to maintain this condition, it is important not to cover the wood with varnish or other types of products that could reduce or eliminate this property.

Passive houses can also use bricks and concrete. The advantages of both materials over wood are in the economic aspect, since they are much cheaper. They are also safer in case of fire. However, both of these materials have a greater environmental impact, as more energy is needed during their production.

Advantages of an ecological house

Now that we know a little more about ecological houses, you will see that they have numerous advantages. Their qualities have a direct impact not only on the environment, but also on your personal well-being.

The use of materials that do not harm the environment contributes to the fight against climate change. Wood is a renewable material and its properties are really quite positive for building homes, and these include hygroscopic qualities which enable humidity to be regulated.

Thermal insulation, together with ventilation systems based on opposite facing windows used to obtain natural air currents, help reduce energy consumption by up to 30%. This means we are talking about homes whose consumption can be amortised in just ten years.

The sealing of building materials prevents leakage of air, dust and allergenic particles. An ecological house not only improves the environment, it also has a positive impact on your health. Those suffering from allergies will benefit greatly.

"We are talking about homes whose consumption can be amortised in just ten years."