We live at a time when environmental issues have become a global priority and living in a sustainable home is a choice that can really make a difference. Designed, built and furnished in a way that impacts the environment as little as possible, a sustainable house ensures maximum energy efficiency and uses renewable energy. In this article we find out what distinguishes a sustainable home from traditional ones and some projects that can be inspiring.
Let's start with what we are talking about: what is an eco-sustainable house? What are its peculiar characteristics? What makes it environmentally friendly? Here are all the answers.
Sustainable consumption is one of the essential characteristics of a sustainable home that primarily uses renewable energy sources. The first among these is certainly the sun: solar panels allow to produce hot water and heat the house while in summer, thanks to solar cooling, they allow to cool it. With solar energy you can therefore provide for every need.
A specific characteristic of sustainable home projects is that they are perfectly insulated: this means that they have no heat loss and are well insulated from the outside, reducing energy consumption in a clear way. Thermal insulation can be made from a variety of eco-sustainable materials and is essential to lower energy demand.
One of the foundations of bio building is to use materials with low environmental impact, non-toxic, safe for the health of the inhabitants of the house and environmentally friendly. We are talking primarily about wood but also about other materials that have a long life cycle and that have an efficient production process, from production to use and disposal.
When we talk about sustainable houses, we are not only talking about the structure but also about the appliances inside. Being energy-conscious means favouring LED lamps, which last 10 times longer and consume much less than halogen ones, but also choosing a washing machine, dishwasher, fridge and oven in energy class A+++.
In the ideal situation, a sustainable home should have at least 30% south-facing sun exposure: in this way solar radiation is maximized in winter and overheating in summer is avoided. Properly oriented buildings can save between 10% and 20% on heating costs.
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Increasingly, design is an integral part of sustainable home projects. Professionals and architectural firms mould materials and shapes to create something truly innovative: in the field of environmentally friendly building, in fact, there are not all the constraints that we find in classical construction and, starting from steel and other sustainable materials, projects are shaped in a free and creative way.
This is how the most interesting projects signed by Cardelli Bros. were born.
Cardelli Bros is a company that has always had a vocation for Green Lifestyle, which is declined in bio building projects and hi-tech furniture, characterized by innovative shapes and materials. Our avant-garde sustainable home projects are part of this context.
The perfect combination of technology, design and sustainability, Casa nell'Orto is a completely energy self-sufficient home thanks to a latest generation photovoltaic system. With a total area of 84 square meters and an elevated structure, Casa nell'Orto presents itself as a sustainable home with a unique and innovative design.
The greenhouse restaurant of Monteoliveto, in Pistoia, is a highly technological structure of about 80 square meters. Set in a beautiful park of 16 thousand square meters, is a building made of steel profiles and laminated glass, which allows sunlight to completely illuminate the interior. The sophisticated shading system allows perfect cooling in the summer months and the control panels ensure simple and intuitive management of the systems.
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The greenhouse dehor built for the Combo, an hostel in the Navigli area of Milan, meets the needs of sustainability and style. The goal was to build an environmentally friendly building that would become a real oasis of peace and greenery within a hectic metropolis. With a total surface area of 154 square meters, the greenhouse dehor has a resistant steel and glass structure.
Not only the structure of a sustainable home is important for the respect of the environment but also and above all the habits of those who live in it. A green lifestyle starts with small things.
Unfortunately, in the world we are still far behind in terms of separate collection. In a sustainable home, it is important to recycle and provide specific compartments for each type of waste: each country and municipality has its own recycling rules, so the best thing is to take a look at the local regulations to know how to behave.
An important chapter is that of lighting. The first thing to do, for those who choose to live in a sustainable home, is to opt for LED bulbs: although they cost more than halogen ones, they last much longer and consume significantly less. Also, pay attention to your behaviour: do not forget the lamps on when you are not in the room.
In a sustainable home, thanks to insulating materials and energy-efficient appliances, we will certainly be able to reduce electricity waste, but let's not forget that there are other types of waste as well. Food waste is a problem of 9 billion euros per year and water waste is about 300 liters per day for every person: smart refrigerators and water collection tanks are valid solutions.
Living in a sustainable house therefore has many advantages for the environment but also for the health and the wallet of those who live there. The costs for the construction of a sustainable home vary depending on the materials and the type of project, but in general they will be amortized thanks to economic incentives and low consumption.
Not to mention that those who live in a sustainable home are about 47% less likely to get sick thanks to better ventilation and thermal insulation.
If you want to know more about our sustainable houses, contact us!
