The life cycle of a building extends from the extraction of raw materials for materials and building components, to the collapse or demolition of the building.
Nowadays discussing sustainable building refers to the “degree of sustainability of the building”, a parameter that includes 32 indicators grouped into five groups:
-Materials and resources (such resources: natural, recycled, sustainable …, recyclability and reusability …).
-Energy (used in obtaining resources in the construction process, the Occupying its own building energy losses …).
-Waste management (generated in obtaining resources, building …).
-Health (harmful emissions …).
-Use of building (in terms of energy use, level of maintenance …
Today’s action can be taken to a sustainable construction revolve around these concepts:
Using wood-optimal depending on its purpose. The different classes have different qualities and properties that are optimal depending on usage.
-Reuse of construction materials.
-Use paints that do not contain heavy materials.
-Use energy-efficient technologies.
-Install items to collect rainwater.
Guidance of buildings (south oriented stays with greater energy requirements).
-Elements of adequate shade.
Cross-ventilation, considering the prevailing wind direction, facilitating the flow of ventilation.
-Increase the insulation.
-Increase the thermal inertia.
-Integrating thermal solar collectors for hot water needs.
-Integrating electronic monitoring devices, energy consumption.
-Integrate and complement various energy sources: solar-electric, solar, biomass.
In short, make the design of the building so as to minimize energy consumption in construction and in its ordinary use all phases of the life cycle of a building are important and should be considered to minimize environmental impact.
Each indicator is assigned a percentage, we calculate the average of each set of indicators, obtaining a value for the group, providing a view of the overall degree of sustainability of the infrastructures.
Tags: cross ventilation, electronic monitoring devices, prevailing wind direction, thermal inertia, thermal solar collectors