What makes a building eco-friendly?

1. Sustainable construction

The best eco-friendly buildings are constructed from the ground up with sustainable materials and energy-efficient features. They make use of renewable materials such as fast-growing bamboo, cork, earth blocks, and cob. The latter, made from subsoil, straw, sand, and lime, is a natural building material that has been used for centuries, and in recent years has been reengineered to make it insulating and durable enough to rival the likes of concrete. Recycled materials, such as steel, plastic, glass, and reclaimed wood are also common features.

Eco-friendly buildings are always incredibly well insulated, often using natural, renewable resources like sheep’s wool or straw bales. They use triple-glazed windows and doors to minimize heat loss while maximizing access to natural light to help residents cut down on electricity use. Plus, they often incorporate green features like rainwater recycling systems and self-sustaining living roofs.

2. Efficient use of sustainable energy

One of the biggest contributors to climate change is the inefficient use of unsustainable energy to power and heat our homes. 18% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK come from home heating, and this is because the majority of homes use fossil fuels, primarily gas but also oil and wood. Eco-friendly buildings typically use renewable heating systems such as heat pumps, and underfloor heating instead of radiators which allows for comfortable temperatures to be reached with lower energy use.

When it comes to electricity, eco-friendly buildings use small yet clever strategies to keep usage to a minimum, such as LED bulbs, automatic motion-sensor lighting, and energy-efficient appliances. Solar panels also allow eco-friendly buildings to reduce or eliminate their reliance on energy from the power grid which is produced by the burning of fossil fuels.

3. Healthy for humans

According to the World Green Building Council, green buildings are healthy buildings. When human health is put at the forefront of building design, environmental benefits tend to follow. 

Here are just three examples of environmental benefits that come up when human health is prioritized in building design:

• A healthy building eliminates the use of solid fuels like coal and wood, which release toxic particulates, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. This results in fewer toxic particulates harming the environment.
• A healthy building avoids gas appliances, which can heighten nitrogen dioxide levels, to protect people against worsening respiratory conditions. This reduces the release of climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions.
• A healthy building is constructed to a high standard to prevent cracks in the facade and reduce the risk of damp and harmful mould exposure for residents. This reduces the risk of heat loss through cracks which means less energy is used to heat the building. 

Eco-friendly building and living

Ultimately, an eco-friendly building is one that prioritizes sustainable materials, efficient use of resources, and human wellbeing. It’s vital that we keep these factors in mind if we’re to live in buildings that truly protect the environment.