How To Build A Eco-Friendly House: Tips And Ways

Respect for the environment, living comfort, energy savings in the medium and long term, ecological houses have many advantages, which offset the potentially high additional cost of construction. Materials, insulation, openings, heating, etc. we tell you all about bioclimatic houses.

The ecological house was still very rare a few years ago. However, faced with the rise in the price of conventional energies (gas, fuel oil, electricity, etc.), more and more owners are planning to build a more responsible house and at the same time more economical. Even if the cost of building an ecological house is higher than for a traditional construction, the passive house offers great savings in the long term.

Choosing eco-construction means choosing sustainable for oneself and for the planet. Refocusing on construction techniques that are more respectful of the environment, eco-construction is attracting more and more people.

An ecological house: what is it?

First of all, it is interesting to understand what an ecological house is, because under this name actually hide different types of houses and buildings. An ecological house is a house that respects the environment by limiting its pollution, reducing its energy losses and reducing its energy needs. To achieve these different objectives, several areas are involved:

●The design of the house: as soon as the plans are made, an ecological house adapts to its environment (optimization of sunlight, addition of trees to create shade, etc.).

●The construction materials chosen: they will preferably be natural, recycled and non-polluting materials.

●Home equipment: often alternative and modern devices to save energy and maximize the insulation of the house (heating, electricity, ventilation, etc.).

The bioclimatic house

A bioclimatic house is a house built according to the natural resources of the land and its location. Thus, the construction of a bioclimatic house follows common sense principles to create a house that consumes little energy and is pleasant to live in. The principles of bioclimatic construction concern, for example, the orientation of the house (preferably due south) or the establishment of trees to provide shade and coolness in summer.

Passive house

A passive house is a house that is self-sufficient in terms of energy and especially in terms of heating. Thus, the heat collected by a passive house is sufficient for its energy needs. By following the rules of common sense of bioclimatic construction, the passive house uses very efficient insulation, rooms facing south and glazing over a large part of its surface.

The positive house

The positive house is also called a positive energy building (BEPOS). This type of construction goes even further than the passive house by allowing the house to produce more energy than it consumes. This is made possible by investing in energy production equipment such as heat pumps or solar collectors. The surplus energy can then be sold to EDF.

The materials used for the construction of an ecological house

The use of certain materials in the context of green construction is important. No matter the type of green house, each requires the use of natural, recycled and non-toxic materials. In this way, the ecological house will be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Among the materials most used in the construction of an ecological house, we can notably mention:

●Wood: natural, wood is 15 times more insulating than concrete. It is often used for the framing of houses.

●Straw: with a strong insulating power, the straw, once placed on the framework, allows the house to be insulated.

●Hemp: mixed with lime, hemp replaces concrete by being much more ecological.

The price of an ecological and bioclimatic house

The main obstacle to building an ecological house is its cost. It is true that an ecological and contemporary house is more expensive than a traditional house due in particular to the specific techniques used by the builders, but especially the equipment which represents a real investment, and also. However, it is important to understand that even if the cost of an ecological house is on average 10 to 20% higher than for a traditional house, the savings realized in the long term make it possible to compensate for this investment.

●Low consumption building house: 1200 to 1800 euros per m².

●Bioclimatic house: 1,500 to 2,500 euros per m².

●Passive house: 1,500 to 3,500 euros per m².

●Positive house: 1,500 to 3,500 euros per m².

What equipment should be preferred for eco-construction?

Opting for an eco-construction implies having recourse to installations and equipment adapted to this type of house:

Ventilation

In a house, ecological or not, the ambient air must be regularly renewed to preserve the health of its occupants and to avoid problems related to humidity (condensation and mold, in particular). If it is possible to provide natural ventilation, it is often recommended and more efficient to install mechanical ventilation. We will favor the installation of a double flow CMV, which greatly limits heat loss, while using the calories extracted from the indoor air to heat the incoming air. In addition to filtering outdoor pollutants, this type of installation can save up to 15% on your heating bill.. You can also opt for a humidity sensitive single flow CMV, more economical but less efficient, which will increase its suction flow when the indoor humidity level exceeds a certain threshold.

Heating and domestic hot water

Have an efficient ecological heating system installed, which will allow you to use renewable energies to heat your home and produce domestic hot water.

Thus, the air-water heat pump makes it possible to produce both heat and domestic hot water, using the calories from the outside air and a little electricity. This system works autonomously, allows you to maintain a constant temperature in your home and to divide by 3 the heating bill. A heat pump of this type only works with low temperature radiators and / or underfloor heating.

You can also opt for a wood stove, which provides constant and gentle heat. Preferably choose a wood pellet stove, because their performance is greater than that of logs, and they are fuels from wood waste (sawdust), therefore more ecological. Note that some wood stoves can also produce hot water.

Another possible solution: solar heating. Thermal sensors installed on the roof of the house store solar energy and transmit it to a water heater and / or a heated floor. If this system only uses solar energy to operate, it must nevertheless be combined with a wood stove to be able to operate continuously. Despite this, solar heating can reduce the heating bill by 50%.

Electricity: produce it yourself!

When you have a project to build an ecological house, producing your own electricity often becomes obvious.

The installation of solar panels can be an interesting solution if one of the slopes of your roof has a good sunshine, an inclination of 30 ° and is rather exposed South. Note that the aerovoltaic is 4 times more efficient than the photovoltaic, because it also recovers the heat produced by the panels to heat your interior. It can also generate cool air during summer nights.

On the other hand, the wind turbine is not such a profitable way to produce its own energy: it costs 2 to 3 times more expensive than photovoltaic panels and needs to be located in an area exposed to strong and regular winds to produce enough energy.

Finally, a cogeneration boiler costs 2 to 3 times more expensive than a conventional boiler, but offers better performance and also allows to generate electricity (50 to 80% of the electricity needs of a household).

As the energy generated most often depends on natural elements (sun, wind …), keep in mind that this energy cannot be produced continuously, and that it is therefore necessary to supplement this supply by “public” electricity. If you wish, you can resell all or part of your electricity production to EDF to recover your costs more quickly.

Lighting: choose LED bulbs

Lighting represents up to 10% of a household’s electricity consumption. With prices falling for several years and great energy savings, low consumption bulbs have everything to seduce! Indeed, if their cost remains quite high, it is offset by a lifespan of up to 25 years and an energy bill up to 10 times lower than with conventional bulbs! Among the low-consumption bulbs, LEDs are the ones that offer the longest life and the lowest energy consumption. Indeed, a bulb or an LED spot will have a longevity 6 times longer than a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

Water: save it and collect rainwater

Water consumption can be greatly reduced by installing certain devices. Consider equipping your faucets with water-saving regulator-tips, install an economical shower head, equip your toilets with 2-speed flushes or install dry toilets, and set up a water recovery system. rainwater (the collected water can be filtered to be used for toilets, floor maintenance, washing clothes … or used without a filter to water the garden or clean your car). In addition, by choosing a dishwasher or washing machine of class A + or higher, you can save up to 50% water compared to older models.

Appliances: check the energy class

If you want to buy traditional household appliances, make sure they are energy efficient. For this, it is best to choose devices with at least energy class A +, which guarantee optimum energy consumption. This codification, which classifies the devices on a scale from G (mediocre performance) to A +++ (optimum performance), takes into account many criteria: electricity consumption, water consumption, lifespan, noise, capacity, etc.

5 advantages of an ecological house

Beyond its quality of insulation or construction, a house can today integrate other criteria such as the use of environmentally friendly materials. This is the principle of the “ecological” or “sustainable” house. What are its main attractions?

Greater respect for the environment

The construction of an ecological house systematically favors materials deemed to be healthier both for the environment and for the health of the inhabitants. The objective is to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere as much as possible, taking into account both the overall energy performance of the home (quality of insulation, heating needs, etc.) and above all consumption. primary energy. The latter also takes into account the CO2 emitted during the transformation phase of materials and construction of the dwelling.

Less energy consumption

In terms of insulation, the emphasis is generally on materials of plant or animal origin to the detriment of wools from the petrochemical industry: straw, hemp, cellulose wadding or even sheep’s wool are all important factors options to avoid heat loss. Their performance is as attractive as synthetic products, with the added satisfaction of doing something for the environment. An ecological house, although it represents a more substantial investment than a traditional house, therefore represents a financial asset in the long term in terms of heating savings.

Healthier indoor air

In the race for the lowest prices, some inexpensive and non-ecological materials can degrade the overall energy performance of the building and even pose a health hazard. The evaporation of certain organic solvents (paint, etc.) can thus release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, which will stagnate in the ambient air of the house at the risk of causing irritation of the tracks. respiratory.

An ecological and well-ventilated house eliminates this problem and allows you to enjoy a healthier and more pleasant living environment. Ecological materials are also proving to be well suited to regulating humidity inside the home, thus avoiding the appearance of certain pathologies linked to too high a humidity level.

A significant capital gain on resale

An ecological house will generally cost more than a conventional house. Indeed, at the same level of performance and comfort, ecological materials come at a much higher price due to stricter distribution chains and less availability than industrial materials.

However, this additional financial effort will be rewarded if you ever consider reselling the property. Healthy and durable materials are the best guarantee that your home will experience a constant increase in its value.

Specific bonuses and subsidies

There are many public incentives available to help you get started on building a green house. The energy transition tax credit (CITE), on the one hand, will grant you a rebate equal to 30% of the cost of a project to improve the energy performance of an old building. The new, as far as it is concerned, can count on a VAT reduced to 5.5% for certain aspects of the site, such as the installation of solar panels or the installation of a wood boiler for example. Beyond that, subsidies from the National Housing Agency (ANAH) or energy bonuses can provide you with real financial support.

7 ecological houses that will make you dream

Do you have the soul of an environmentalist? There are several daily steps you can take to reduce your ecological footprint, but if you are attracted to design and beautiful things, why not make your home eco-responsible too? Here are 7 houses, each more incredible than the last, that can inspire you for your project! If that inspires you, don’t hesitate to build an ecological house for yourself which you can decorate as you want, in scandinavian style, modern, gothic and more.

Ecocapsule

With its 8m2, this capsule will not be the ideal home if you are looking for a lot of interior space. On the other hand, if you are drawn to the great fresh air of nature, know that this little gem of ingenuity can be placed anywhere, as long as transport is possible. Imagine getting up in the morning at the top of a mountain, in the jungle or on the seashore… In addition to that, it is self-sufficient and can even charge the battery of your electric car. Unbelievable! In this house a small rooms is made to look bigger by using tricks, like lightning, furniture and more which making a small room to look bigger.

Waternest 100

Who has never dreamed of a house that floats on water? In any case, this is what the Italian architect Giancarlo Zema thought, and we can say that it is a success. With its 1076 ft2, Waternest 100 is an ultra modern house with 645 ft2 of solar panels capable of generating 4kWp (peak kilowatt). This house is very original and ideal for all those who wish to be in harmony with nature.

The orchid house

Perhaps some will easily notice the resemblance to the Orchid. By the way, this amazingly designed house was sold to an anonymous buyer (supposedly from the cinema) for the modest sum of $ 14.2 million. We still appreciate the fact that it was created to produce more energy than it uses thanks to its geothermal heating and underground pumps.

Ecological family home, ready in 6 days

For around $ 500,000 this house that can be built in 6 days could be yours. Although this very designer house does not seem really out of the ordinary, this very fast construction method can greatly limit construction costs. It should also be noted its solar thermal system which allows it to reduce hot water costs by 50 to 60%. In addition, with its solar panels and its atypical hot water tank, the electricity costs for a family do not exceed $ 400 per year. Rather nice!

Hobbit’s house

Not everyone wants to live in a Hobbit house, but for those interested, Michael Buck managed to make this one with only $ 220 and safe for the environment. Being considered a summer house, no plan was necessary for its construction. Despite everything, the house does not have water or electricity and the heating is done by a wood fireplace. It can give you ideas!

The villa-a

With a magnificent design and very far from the Hobbit house seen above, Villa A offers a passive system that allows the recovery of energy thanks to solar collectors on the roof and on the ground. All the necessary elements are present to make this house a “green building” according to European standards.

The Zeb house (zero emission buildings)

This house is an example of the perfect ecological house since it emits no CO2. The most incredible thing about this house with its atypical design is that it produces 3 times more energy than it needs, 3 times! With 1,615 sq. Ft. Of well oriented solar panels on the roof, it was clear that the electricity produced would be sufficient. You should also know that the air and light are automatically controlled according to use and need. Obviously, these are not the only advantages of the house, you can take a look at the diagram below to discover that it also has many specificities: a radiant floor that heats the whole house, a rain collector that provides water for the toilets and the garden when water reuse is no longer enough … in short.

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