RATIONALIZE THE USE OF ENERGY IN ARCHITECTURE

Rationalize the use of energy in architecture

One of the most serious current environmental impacts is the excessive emission of gases responsible for the global warming that causes the climate change that we experience. Those gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). By sector, buildings represent almost half of energy consumption. The rest of the energy consumption is distributed between industry and transport.

To reduce the impact of buildings on greenhouse gas emissions, there are three different means: energy savings (by influencing user habits), energy efficiency (by improving construction and facilities) and energy production from renewable energies.

Most of the buildings constructed lack thermal insulation. The first step in reducing energy consumption therefore consists in reducing energy demand by improving the insulation of the thermal envelope (facades, roofs, floors in contact with the ground and enclosures in contact with non-habitable spaces) . By working on so-called passive systems, transmission losses in winter and transmission and radiation gains (through glazing) in summer are reduced.

« Our homes, buildings, towns and villages were designed and built in the 19th century and, above all, in the 20th century to meet the needs of previous generations, using energy and natural resources as if they were limitless. The situation has changed. We are facing a climate emergency and we must transform them quickly because, if we do not act now, they will constitute an increasing hindrance to our progress . »

 Lluís Comerón, President of CSCAE (Superior Council of Associations of Architects)

At the same time, improving the energy efficiency of thermal installations (domestic hot water - DHW - heating, cooling and ventilation installations) and lighting, as well as their appropriate management (called active systems), will also have an impact on reducing energy consumption.

Finally, the reduction of emissions due to the use of fossil fuels is obtained through the use of renewable energies such as solar (thermal solar panels - to heat water - and photovoltaics - to produce electricity -), biomass or geothermal energy (geothermal heat pumps).

Arpio Architects in all of this ?

Arpio Architects is here to ensure that your new projects consume less energy and that together we can preserve our planet. Thus, among our processes we can cite:

• Choice and orientation of the house

It is necessary to create a design that works with the environment, and not against it. The first decision to be made during construction is where the building will be constructed, it is important to avoid areas of high pollution. It should also be taken into account that the chosen area contains areas of vegetation, as these help reduce pollution and create a more sustainable area. In addition, the orientation is just as relevant. Thanks to it, we can achieve better thermal regulation and reduce energy and monetary costs. The size of the rooms is also important, depending on the size, we can keep the heat for a longer or shorter time and thus reduce the use of heating.

• Use of renewable energies

One of the big problems is the electrical energy that we use, which comes from large sources of pollution such as nuclear power plants. To bet on sustainability, it is necessary to produce renewable energy. We are therefore committed to providing you with solutions in this direction, such as photovoltaics.

• insulation

You understand: The most essential during construction is to take into account thermal insulation in order to slow down thermal variation. It is necessary not to waste energy thanks to the filtration of the house through the frames or the walls, in this way we reduce the energy consumption because we do not lose the heat of the radiation in the rooms.

For this, we at Arpio Architects employ a wide variety of elements such as double-glazed windows that contribute to energy savings of 60% or materials that promote this insulation such as cork, which in addition to insulation is a natural element. Green facades are another good insulator, a growing trend that we will talk about shortly in our Inspirations section.

• Use of reusable materials

During the construction of a building, a large amount of materials is used and these subsequently become waste. For a sustainable architecture, Arpio reuses some of these materials to reduce the environmental impact such as wood for example or cellulose. Another option is to reuse the waste to make concrete, which, along with the cement, creates insulation that promotes insulation and durability. In addition, the paints used are chemical-free so as not to affect the ozone layer.

Sustainable architecture is the future and it becomes a pillar for the care of the planet, the creation of environmentally friendly buildings grows every day and with it the care of the ecosystem.