Currently, the world population has almost 8 billion people spread all over the globe. As we saw in the last entry on the Pacheco Architects blog, "it is expected that by the year 2050 no less than 11.4 billion people will inhabit the earth and 15.3 billion in 2100." As a society, we must be responsible for our environment, and that means that it is in our power to create cities with eco-sustainable buildings and homes that minimize the negative impact of their construction on the environment.
According to UN data, cities contribute to climate change, since they "consume 78% of the world's energy and produce more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions."
The main objectives are to reduce home consumption of resources, materials, energy and water. For this, it is necessary to respect all the phases of the construction or rehabilitation process of the building or structure.
How to achieve eco-sustainable buildings and houses
Building taking advantage of and optimizing the available space
We must optimize the space available to build and distribute the house to the maximum since a functional and practical space is used twice and even seems larger.
Build in a flexible and process-oriented way
Most of us live lives with frequent and rapid changes in finances, family, ability, etc. It is advisable to keep open the possibilities of later additions, adaptations and changes that are already in the planning phase. For example, making the interior walls mobile or building modular single-family homes where sections can be added according to the needs of the family, at that specific moment. This implies small extra expenses in the construction phase itself, but in the long run, it will give greater freedom with lower costs and use of resources.
Build strong
For them to be eco-sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings or homes, the materials and technical solutions must be of high quality. This results in less resource consumption in the use phase, and any additional costs in the build phase are generally quickly recouped. This construction system guarantees good availability for maintenance and updating, especially about the components of the technical installations: heating, electricity and water.
Other considerations to achieve a sustainable architecture
- Adapt the construction to local climatic conditions, reducing wear and energy consumption.
- Adapt the design to the topography of the plot.
- Preserve the natural vegetation of the environment or put plants typical of your region or climate.
- Use, as far as possible, the use of materials based on renewable raw materials, such as wood. Reduce the use of resource-intensive metal and plastic products. Plastic-based coatings, fillers, glues, and paints also pose indoor weather hazards with gas discharges and static electricity.
- Use recycled products if possible. For example, they can be latticework, brick and slate roofs, structural tiles, sinks, bathtubs, etc... recyclable, of good quality and in good condition.
- Use as few as possible products and constructive solutions that contain or require the use of glues, paints, putties or varnishes. Such products are often impossible to recover or reuse and often end up as environmentally harmful special waste.
- Choose simple and reliable solutions for power and ventilation systems. Avoid the temptation to install complex installations with many moving parts. The promised properties and efficiency rarely last long, and replacements can be hard to find.
- Explore energy-efficient options for appliances and lighting. It is important to make the most of natural lighting needs.
- Use a flexible, low-temperature heating system that can use multiple energy sources. (Electricity, biofuels, solar energy, etc.)
- Install water-saving equipment. (Two-button toilets, water-saving appliances, etc.)
- Reservation of space for the technical room. Its need will increase in the coming years, among other things to house energy facilities.
- Reserve enough space for the classification of waste in the kitchen and be able to recycle properly.
Architecture studio with more than 25 years of experience
Pacheco Architects is an architecture studio that works to create eco-sustainable buildings, social spaces and environmentally friendly homes. Well, our projects cover a wide field, from large housing and public works projects to single-family homes, country houses, rehabilitation and extensions.
Our architecture studio has extensive experience and is especially interested in constructing and planning environmentally friendly homes. Our architects have worked to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly architecture in all their projects. For this reason, its architectural style is based on three main premises: minimalist, functional and durable solutions.
They achieve this by using as many natural building materials as possible, avoiding the use of environmentally harmful substances, facilitating the use of green energy and focusing on a healthy indoor climate. That is, they work with a holistic approach to eco-sustainable buildings and homes.
We believe that all architecture should seek to be as respectful as possible of the environment. Sustainability and reuse have become a trend in architecture, and more people want to live in eco-sustainable houses. Sustainability and reuse have become a trend in architecture, and more people want to live in eco-sustainable houses.
The objective is to design environments and solutions that inspire and facilitate a more sustainable life, creating spaces that strengthen belonging and the union between people.
The way we build has a lot to say about the future of the planet since the greenhouse gas emissions and pollution we generate can be determining factors for the continuity of life as we know it.
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