Ten Tricks To Make Your Home More Sustainable

Living in a sustainable home is an idea that is increasingly present in our society. This new way of looking outwards, trying to minimize the negative impact of our works, encompasses the daily lives of many. Also from the professionals themselves. In the housing sector, the term sustainable architecture is an intrinsic must for many studios. Two experts in the field, Monica Adams and Dirk Jan Postel, resident architects in Rotterdam (Holland), a city par excellence in sustainable architectural avant-garde, have sat down with us to give us some tips on how to make our home a more sustainable space. . After all, respect for the environment does not reside exclusively in taking the environment into account when designing a home, there are many more facets after the construction itself, and that, as individual beings, we can contribute our grain of sand.

Paying attention to the materials used, so that they are as less harmful to the environment as possible, incorporating solar panels, or having good insulation are just a few examples. But there is much more, here are ten keys to making your home more sustainable:

1. In the face of changes, better materials with a ‘second life’

The reforms are a good opportunity to give the echo point. You have to think about materials that can have a second life, says Dirk. Steel, for example, can be used again, or even tiles. Adhesives are being developed that allow them to be reused. On the other hand, we must forget about aluminum, which is a material that will disappear in 20 years”. As Monica adds, “We must look for biodegradable materials like wood, which is now in fashion. Cement is surely the least sustainable in itself, it is better to choose stone or brick”. In the end, it is important to opt for products that are sustainable in their production. Choosing local materials, for example, is a great advantage. You reduce spending on energy in transport.

2. Reuse furniture

“Instead of buying or creating new products, reusing objects is something everyone should start thinking about. A lot is already being done in the Netherlands. You can find beautiful old doors instead of making a new one,” explains Monica. in this country it has gone further, and specifically in Rotterdam there is a new urban trend that is committed to reusing abandoned buildings instead of demolishing them and starting from scratch. They are even using the rubble itself to build. The main problem is that only the 2 % of rebuilt buildings are energy positive If we create new zero-energy buildings, which is not always the case, it takes 30-70 years to become fully sustainable So the key is to look at existing buildings and make them sustainable, says Dirk.

3. Insulate your house

Betting on adding thickness to the walls is a gesture that represents a great energy saving. “Something as simple as adding a triple wall, for example, can significantly reduce the impact of heating,” says Dirk. “A problem with many houses is that the floor is not insulated. they have to be at a temperature of about 60 degrees to be able to have a temperature of 20 ambient “. The solution? “If we improve the insulation, the cold no longer enters nor the heat from the radiator escapes. For this reason, we only need to maintain the temperature. If the floor is old, the insulation in this area must be improved. An extra 7 mm is enough,” he explains. The architect.

4. Be more flexible

“Different buildings, different functions, different people. This idea no longer works. Just as multifunctional spaces are made in a city, in a house you can too,” says Dirk. Play to create areas that serve to fulfill various functions depending on the distribution of the furniture. The flexibility of the rooms allows not only to give it a personal touch, but also to help sustainability”, adds Monica. One proposal from the architect is to play with sliding doors within the same room, “you can design a large room that is close into several smaller ones in winter and thus heat less space”. In these open spaces the thickness of the interior walls that you want to include plays an important role. As Monica explains, “you can use partitions, but it is better to avoid closed rooms. In fact, inside the house, it is better to opt for open spaces that help ventilation”.

5. Crystal: good but without abusing

Known among his friends as Mister Glass for his devotion to this material, Jan Postel defines glass as “the perfect material for architects but difficult to fit in with sustainability. Its reflection has disastrous effects on climate change. In addition, the problem of the glass also lies in the overheating of the house”. This material allows a higher level of light and, therefore, heat, which in winter means a reduction in the cost of electricity and heating, but in warmer seasons it can cause overheating that requires more use of the air conditioning. Dirk gives us the solution: “Adding an external overhang that prevents the sun from hitting the glass directly, the problem ends. The architect has a house in Alicante, and he gives it as an example: an overhang lets “the sun enter in winter; but in summer, when the sun is higher, it blocks it. Monica adds another solution: that the light that enters directly from the roof is a very important change in terms of sustainability. It is not necessary to make large holes, small skylights are worth it. In fact, in the United States, there is often too much sun, so the best option is to create light galleries that can be covered and also closed or opened to improve ventilation.

6. Be resounding to renewable energies

It’s time to change the kitchen, why not bet on a solar? A pioneer in the matter, in 1994 Dirk already proposed the creation of zero-energy buildings, whose roofs included a green area, solar panels, and windmills. We are in a moment of energetic transition. Resources like diesel run out. We must move towards other sources, and those are the renewable ones, it has determination. Solar panels are not something that exactly beautifies your house, but it is the most rational thing you can do today. Especially with the weather in the United States. Areas with a lot of sun, such as the Levantine coast, allow this type of energy to be used practically all year round since the sun is present even in winter. This is the most important point of all when we talk about sustainability. The problem with this type of housing is the night,” warns Dirk. “Well, if you don’t have a good battery system, you may not have power 24 hours a day.”

7. Bet on the heat pump

Regarding the use of solar panels, Dirk adds that a good tip to improve sustainability is to add a heat pump. Unlike other traditional heating systems such as gas, electricity, or diesel, the heat pump allows considerable energy savings. He has two water tanks installed in the basement that, with the use of the pump, “not only provide me with hot water to shower, but I also enjoy a floor that allows me to walk barefoot since this part is hot when ascending from the ground.” bottom of the house. The architect emphasizes that if a radiant floor is added, “heating costs are lower”.

8. Solar to vertical gardens or green roofs

The green roofs produce a very positive cellar effect. There is a lot of talk about roofs with solar panels, but the concept of Green Roofs is gaining momentum in the Netherlands. It helps reduce heat and also filters the air. You can put solar panels and combine it with a green area, optimizing sustainability,” says Dirk. “Adding a small garden on top of the house is the best option. A vertical garden or in the interior of the house can also help. The energy-saving it causes is very interesting”, adds Monica.

9. Smart Houses: technology as an ally

Smart houses are synonymous with monitoring. That means it helps you know when and where energy is being wasted.” Being able to control all devices, including lamps and heating, is synonymous with making sure there is no unnecessary waste, especially if you forget. from home and make sure all your devices are turned off. It’s also comfortable because you can turn on the heating while you’re on the go,” says Dirk. Using an intelligent lighting system that detects the level of light as well as a movement means high energy and economic savings, Monica specifies.

10. Do colors influence?

They can help, but it is not something fundamental to sustainability. The material is more important than the color. Of course, a dark color, like black, retains more heat, so in summer it causes a higher level of overheating. It is better to opt for light colors.