4 modern building techniques that are making eco-friendly homes a reality

When it comes to our homes, we’re embracing green techniques more now than ever before. We all recognize how important it is to do our bit for the planet. After all, you don’t need us to tell you about the damage our environment has to deal with on a daily basis. Sustainable building methods can be used in order to reduce the environmental impact during the building process and in terms of the future as well with regards to how much energy is required in order to live in a property.

With that in mind, below, we are going to take a look at some of the modern building techniques that can make an eco-friendly home a reality.

Building an eco-friendly roof

First and foremost, there are a number of different approaches that are available when it comes to green building techniques for roofs. We are going to start off by taking a look at green roofs. Bushes, flowers, plants, grass, and other greenery will grow on the roofing material. When compared with a bare roof, stormwater is managed with greater ease because it is absorbed into the soil. Moreover, air quality will be improved while cooling and heating expenses are going to be reduced.

Another innovation we should discuss is synthetic roof underlayment. The underlayment on roofs tends to be asphalt-based. This will usually break down rather quickly. It is vital to replace this layer so that moisture does not get into the interior of the building. Synthetic roof underlayment will give you an alternative that will weigh less while holding up to the wear and tear of the exterior environment. Polymer is used in the material from recycled scrap materials. This will also get rid of VOCs from the underlayment.

Use of electrochromic glass

Aside from building an eco-friendly roof, there are a number of other approaches that can be used in construction in order to create a sustainable property that does less damage to the environment. The use of electrochromic glass is something that is definitely worth further elaboration. We are seeing this material being used more and more in build projects all around the world.

So, what is this type of glass in any case? electrochromic glass is able to change from clear glass to opaque glass based on the external stimuli, for example, UV rays or electrical current. It gets rid of the need for window treatments such as shades while also ensuring the current conditions are passively adapted to. There are other benefits as well, for example, the vast majority of UV rays are blocked. This means that there is a significant reduction in glare.

With this type of glass, you are essentially going to have smart windows throughout the property that is being constructed. Smart windows present you with the potential to make significant savings in terms of energy use and the money you spend on energy. As the heat load of the building is going to be reduced, a smaller HVAC system can be installed. This is going to lower capital expenditures.

Grid hybrid system

Another eco-friendly approach that you may want to consider when it comes to building a property is the grid hybrid system. Renewable energy sources give us a sustainable method for businesses to power commercial properties and homeowners to power their humble abodes. However, a lot of grid systems do not have the storage that is needed to power facilities when it comes to periods where solar availability is low. This can be a particular concern when it comes to powering buildings that are going to require a lot of energy. This is why it is advisable to consider a grid hybrid system. This sort of system is going to store excess energy, enabling the renewable source to function in conditions that are not ideal, for example, overcast days and at night time.

IoT integrated automated building systems

Last but not least, we cannot talk about the latest building methods and greenest approaches without discussing the Internet of Things (IoT). After all, IoT has revolutionised many different elements of our existence, and this certainly applies when it comes to construction and building methods.

IoT has made it possible for facility managers to get access to data that they would not have been able to access before. These small connected sensors are able to be integrated with your automated building systems so that the sustainability of your operations is improved. For instance, IoT sensors can be used to dynamically alter the lighting levels and ventilation that are needed within a building based on CO2 readings, weather, and temperature.

The facility manager is not going to be required to stay on top of these changes manually, nor will he or she need to input data from a number of different pieces of equipment. After all, if you think about, making the right decisions and the ones that are going to benefit the environment the most depends on having the right information. This is what the IoT provides, and it means that we are going to be able to make the most environmentally beneficial changes when building any sort of property.

So there you have it: four of the current building techniques that can be used in order to make an eco-friendly home a reality. We hope that this information will help you when it comes to choosing the right builder for your home or even the best property on the market for you. No matter whether you’re looking for a luxury holiday home, such as villa Alcuzcuz, or you’re wanting to build a new home in your current location, it is important to do so with the environment in mind. There are also plenty of other ways that you can save energy during the build process and while living within a property, so don’t stop at the four ideas that have been mentioned! There is always more that we can achieve!