Al Manaratain’s Simple Guide To Building A House Sustainably
When designing and building a house there’s certainly a lot to think about. From budgeting to finding supplies and organising the final construction process, there are many factors to take into consideration. One factor that can often be overlooked, yet is essential to consider when building a house is sustainability. By this we mean making sure that you’re using processes and materials that have as little an impact on the environment as possible.
Why is this important?
Sustainability is a crucial consideration for any construction project, which is why it’s also important for building a house. The construction industry can have a very damaging effect on the environment, when excess waste and pollution is produced. That’s why it’s important to consider the materials and processes that we are using.
How can you consider sustainability when building a house?
Plan Effectively
Preparation and planning are key to building a house sustainably. Planning your project thoroughly will ensure that you can choose the most sustainable materials and processes for the job. Specifically, it’s essential that the correct quantity of materials are chosen as well as choosing the best quality. This will prevent waste that is bad for the environment. When planning the construction project, remember that high quality building materials may be slightly higher in cost than cheap options, and so it’s important to factor this into your budget. Whilst the initial investment may be a little heavier, the long term benefits of choosing quality soon make this up. Not to mention the money that you’ll save by avoiding the repair costs that inevitably come with using cheap construction methods and practices.
Choose Sustainable Building Materials
Selecting high quality materials is essential for building a house successfully. It’s also crucial for building a house sustainably. Examples of sustainable building materials include bamboo and recycled wood and glass. Using materials that can be repurposed after use or that have been made from repurposed objects themselves, is important for reducing the buildup of harmful waste that goes to landfill. When choosing concrete options, pre-cast concrete products are a great choice for the environment. Hollow, pre-stressed concrete slabs are less dense than regular concrete, reducing materials as well as making the overall construction period shorter. Al Manaratain’s lightweight concrete blocks are another great option for building a house sustainably. Made using innovative LECA technology, the concrete blocks have an exceptionally low density and high thermal capacity that reduces the need to use energy to supply air conditioning inside structures.
Consider Construction Technology & Processes
When building a house sustainably it’s also important to consider the technology and methods that your contractors will be using. The environmental impact may not seem obvious, but the construction machinery and methods that are used can have a big impact on how sustainable the project is. For example, using the latest technology can ensure projects are completed faster, reducing the amount of energy that is used, and consequently the levels of pollution that are emitted. Streamlining processes as much as possible will help to save money as well as the planet. There are also some incredible new construction technologies that have emerged. If any of these can be utilised when building a house, this is another positive step for protecting the environment.
Create An Energy Efficient Structure
When discussing how to build a house sustainably the planning, processes and materials used for the project are an essential consideration, however it’s also important to think about the long term picture. You also want the property to be sustainable to live in once it’s completed. That’s why it’s crucial to consider energy efficiency. If you’re building a house in a hot climate, you can make the structure energy efficient by using thermal insulation. Our insulated blocks have an exceptionally low U-value that prevents heat from the outside air getting into the property. This reduces the need for air conditioning that wastes large amounts of energy. In addition to this, you can choose the positioning of the structure to prevent the sun heating the house directly, and install in-built ventilation. You may also want to consider renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
For more information on how you can use Al Manaratain’s concrete products for sustainable construction projects, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.