Environmentally Sustainable Architecture: Materials And Resources

The development of daily life (educational, cultural, office, health buildings, etc.) consumes energy to meet different needs, such as thermal conditioning, lighting, ventilation, hot water supply, etc. The idea behind Environmentally Sustainable Architecture is to promote less use of traditional energy resources and to enhance the ecological definition. Green architecture aims to achieve a construction model by integrating open-source hardware and modular and environmental design concepts.

Insulation will be one of the fundamental aspects of an ecological house. There are insulators such as wood, cork, natural wool, linen, coconut fiber, etc. that will help us achieve thermal comfort by keeping the house warm in winter and cool in summer. Through sanitary devices that reduce water consumption or the collection and storage of rainwater, we can save one of the most precious, scarce, and essential natural resources.

Health and habitability are also conceived as essential factors in the concept of ecological housing. Indoor air quality and, consequently, ventilation will be necessary to avoid high levels of air pollution such as condensation, humidity, and CO2 concentrations: aspects that can affect our health and well-being. A series of modifications have recently been introduced that vary the ventilation requirements in the interior of buildings to improve their health.

The treatment of waste or its recycling is crucial in any sustainable architecture. From the treatment of gray water through filters and biological stabilization to the production of compost from organic waste or the recycling of materials for later use: waste treatment is a crucial aspect.

As for the materials used in this type of construction, they must be natural, recyclable, and non-toxic. They must generate ecological footprint (wood, brick, natural stone, vegetable fibers, etc.). Regarding the use of natural resources, the sun or the earth can provide us with solar or geothermal energy for the air conditioning of the home. Proper orientation will contribute to improving the energy efficiency of the building: making it a more thermally comfortable place and will help to provide adequate lighting.

The LEED certification evaluates sustainable buildings according to 6 criteria. Sustainability in construction materials and resources is the primary aspect—efficiency and water use, both during its construction and when the building is in use. Articles and resources must be respectful of the environment. The quality of the interior environment should be innovative. Energy efficiency is the value that scores the most.