Building like in the old days and still focusing on comfort
We are in the midst of a pandemic and the third wave is hurtling towards us with the accelerator pedal to the metal. Only a few industries are among the lucky ones, and real estate is one of them. So building is going on and investment is continuing, because you can’t afford to stand still. However, the pandemic has also fuelled another issue, and that is sustainability. Anything else would be too short-sighted and not responsible in times of crisis. We are currently experiencing a rollercoaster of temperatures. 22 °C in mid-February, followed shortly afterwards by sub-zero temperatures at the beginning of spring. Well, we can say with certainty that extreme weather conditions will be our companion in the future if we do not finally act on a large scale. So heat days are becoming more and more and harmful air conditioners are certainly not the answer to our problem. Sustainable construction and smart and green building, on the other hand, are the key to a climate-friendly future.
Sustainable construction – more than just a trend
Building owners like to bring the universally unpopular additional costs into play. It is also true that this construction method is not necessarily cheaper. But if we had always thought in such short-term terms throughout our history, we would never have come this far. Conversely, surveys show that buyers are increasingly insisting on sustainable construction. They accept higher initial costs, knowing that this will pay off over the entire life cycle. For most people, however, the main driving force is their love of Mother Nature, and that means minimising the consumption of energy and resources. So it is that interest in sustainable building is growing rapidly among the general public. In addition, the topic will also be anchored in the OIB guidelines as well as national and international standards in the future. To minimise the consumption of energy and resources, to reduce the use of space and to have as little impact on nature as possible throughout the life cycle of a building.
Long-term thinking is the model of the future
Sustainable building thus encompasses all areas from the choice of the site, architecture and energy, water and material efficiency, operation, maintenance and waste avoidance to resource-efficient operation. This building system very consciously reduces the resulting negative effects and thus protects our valuable ecosystem from further exploitation. Nature demands this rethinking – and we humans lead a more beautiful and pleasant life in sustainable buildings. So anyone who decides in favour of an ecological and sustainable building method should bear the following in mind:
- Space-saving building
- Consider the location, for example in terms of infrastructure, position in the sun and incidence of light.
- Resource-friendly building method
- Use of ecological building materials and equipment products
- Use of renewable regional materials
- Special accuracy in thermal insulation
- No sealing of surfaces and greening of outdoor areasUse of solar energy, heat pumps and other natural energy sources
Archibrix focuses on a sustainable future
We all have a certain obligation towards the nature in which we live and, above all, how we leave it to our children. The goal is to live in harmony with nature as much as possible without sacrificing any of the comforts we are accustomed to. And this is where the intelligent home comes into play. Admittedly, opinions sometimes differ here, especially among architects who have dedicated themselves to sustainable construction. But ultimately, with the intelligent use of a smart home, everything from heating to lighting to blind control can be automated, thus increasing energy efficiency many times over. And a higher quality of life combined with a clean conscience must be the goal of us all.
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