Do You Want to Achieve a more Sustainable Home?

More and more houses are being built following the parameters of sustainable architecture: bioclimatic houses, buildings with energy certification... However, most people live in houses and apartments that were not designed as living spaces that respect the environment.

The objective is to build comfortable and functional homes in the most economical way possible. Converting these homes into more sustainable places does not require a large outlay, you just have to be aware of caring for the environment and carry out minimal logistical adaptations.

To transform the home into an ecological environment, you have to get used to making a small gesture every day. Taking as a reference a traditional apartment, with the usual rooms and a small terrace, we offer you some advice on what actions and changes you can take to start taking care of the environment... You can save money now!

What to Do to Create a more Sustainable Home?

1. Insulate walls, ceiling and floor to help heat and save on energy.
2. Install double-glazed windows or curtains with thermal backing (which are more economical).
3. Use the sun. Orient the house so that it gets maximum sunlight, install solar water heating and consider passive heating options.
4. Select appliances with high energy efficiency ratings, such as ecological light bulbs.
5. Opt for non-toxic construction materials.
6. Choose water-saving appliances and low-flow sanitary accessories.
7. Recycle when possible, especially when demolishing and building.
8. Use renewable electricity sources whenever possible, generating on site (for example, by installing a small-scale wind turbine or micro-hydroelectric system) or choosing an electricity company that generates from renewable sources.
9. Build with comfort and the future in mind, good interior/exterior access will be a key requirement.
10. Choose native and local plants for gardens and landscaping.

What Materials Can I Use for the Construction of Sustainable Houses?

There are all kinds of materials that are recycled, recovered and reused. The most used recycled materials are:

• Kitchen countertops using recycled glass, very useful for its resistance to heat in addition to its wide range of colors.
• Steel manufactured from recycled metals, is a good option since it does not lose its qualities, such as resistance, hardness or malleability
• Reclaimed wood, in addition to avoiding the
• The bricks, stones and paving stones can also be recovered and reused.
• Reuse the excavation soils for new gardens.
• The roof tiles can have recycled content.
• Plastic products with recycled content.
• Drywall materials that were recycled.

In short, today any product in your home could come from recycled materials.

What are the Advantages of Using LED Lighting?

LED lights are becoming increasingly common as an energy-saving home design feature. LED lighting seeks to reduce your energy cost and you will not need to change the bulbs for many years. They may be a little more expensive up front, but it will increase electricity savings and you won't have to change your bulbs as often.

On the other hand, LED brackets for light emitting diode are the best option for low energy lighting and for efficient housing designs.

How to save on Heating?

Your heat and air conditioning will normally be the largest source of energy consumption in your home. You will want to use an efficient and well-designed system, which is why it is important to know that it is essential to achieve energy savings.

We Give You 8 Simple Tricks to Have a Warm Home with Low Energy Consumption:

1. The ideal temperature to heat a home is 19º to 21ºC. Only an increase of 1ºC, raises energy expenditure by 7%. At night, 15º to 17ºC is enough.
2. It is better to maintain a constant temperature. 'Heat strokes' increase spending considerably.
3. Take advantage of the hours of light, lower the blinds when it is already night and draw the curtains, so you will prevent the heat accumulated during the day from being lost.
4. Install a good insulation system in the windows. Up to 30% of heating needs come from heat losses originating in the windows. Improve the quality of the glass and the type of frame carpentry (the most efficient is wood).
5. Check for heat losses in the cracks of doors and windows, of uninsulated blind systems.
6. Place a thermostat (better programmable). It will more easily maintain an optimal temperature and you will save from 8 to 13%.
7. Regulate the heating with your schedules. If you spend a lot of time away from home, do not leave the heating on during the day, better program it for 1 hour before arriving.
8. The majority option in individual heating is the boiler (with distribution by radiators or underfloor heating), followed by electric radiators (the most expensive systems) and air conditioning equipment with heat pump.
9. Radiators that work with water must be purged at least once a year before the arrival of winter for proper operation.

Did you know that underfloor heating is more efficient than radiators? You only need to heat the water from 35º to 45ºC.

What Options are there for Obtaining Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is a hot topic these days for sustainability. The energy source is very important when designing a sustainable house. Here are a couple of options.

• Photovoltaic panels: install photovoltaic or solar panels to generate energy from the sun. Large trees that block the sun can cause a problem for solar panels. Also the orientation of the house is important. In certain areas, the surplus energy can be resold to your local energy source.
• Windmills: consider installing a small windmill, if applicable, check if your local energy source has wind power or other renewable energy sources available.
• Geothermal heat: although the soil can freeze in the winter, the soil that is in the depth is warm. Use the heat of the earth to heat your home.

If you want to know the best way to know the level of energy efficiency of your home you must obtain an energy efficiency certificate. In short, these are some of the steps to follow to obtain greater energy savings and also raise awareness in respecting the environment. Are you signing up?