25
Feb, 2022
lightning

Electrical Installation: Why Install A Lightning Arrester?

Lightning can cause damage not only to your home through your electrical and telecommunications installations but also to your electrical appliances. It is a protection material for surges of atmospheric origin caused by lightning. In this aspect, for your safety, that of your house, and your electrical appliances, the installation of a lightning arrester is essential.

People often tend to confuse the lightning arrester, also called surge protector and the lightning rod. However, these devices are different, and each has its own role. In addition to its function of protecting electrical installations and appliances, the lightning arrester can limit the duration and amplitude of the current. It is also used to prevent damage that can be caused by voltage imbalance. 

As for the lightning, the conductor is a device that protects the building by preventing lightning from falling or directing it directly to the ground. It prevents fire and damage to the structure of buildings.

Mandatory criteria for the installation of a lightning arrester

lightning

The mandatory nature of the installation of the lightning arrester depends on several parameters. These include the characteristics and power supply of the buildings as well as the lightning density. The installation of the lightning arrester must be carried out according to the regulations in force, in particular the standard NFC15-100 and the guide UTE C 15-443. According to the NF C 15-100 standard, the use of a lightning arrester is mandatory when the buildings are located less than 50 meters from a large metallic structure such as a lightning conductor and a GSM antenna. 

This is also the case for buildings that are powered by an overhead line. The installation of a lightning arrester is also mandatory for buildings that are located in areas frequently struck by lightning. This is the case in the south of France.

Lightning arrester installation techniques

lightning

The lightning arrester can be installed in two ways. If it is intended to protect your entire installation, it is placed inside the electrical panel with a differential circuit breaker and a divisional circuit breaker. The lightning arrester can also be installed individually through the use of power strips with a lightning arrester function. The price for this installation can go up to 700 dollars. 

For this, it is necessary to put it in contact with the most sensitive and expensive receivers, which must be protected like computers and data centers as well as the equipment connected to them. In this sense, the device must be plugged into a socket or power strip and connected to the electrical device.

Types of surge protectors

lightning

There are three types of surge protectors: type 1, type 2, and type 3. Type 1″ surge protectors have the ability to conduct a strong lightning current from the ground to a power distribution system. These arresters are placed in the electrical panel of buildings if they are equipped with a lightning conductor. 

Then there are the “type 2” lightning arresters which are also installed in the electrical panel. They can drain the lightning currents that cause high transient overvoltages on the power distribution network. Finally, as far as “type 3” arresters are concerned, their ability to discharge lightning current is very limited compared to the other two types of arresters mentioned above. 

They must be installed with “type 2” surge protectors to reduce surges on sensitive and critical devices and equipment effectively.

Therefore, for optimal protection of your building and your safety, contact the appropriate authorities, or a company that specialized in installing and maintaining lightning arresters. Thanks to their skills and expertise, you can benefit from an impeccable service.

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28
Jan, 2022
solar

Voltaic And Aerovoltaic Systems: Which Is Better?

The choice of an energy source is not self-evident. It deserves a particular reflection. You can draw your own conclusion by reading this article. Here, we propose you to choose between the famous voltaic installation and the aerovoltaic system.

Reminder on the electrical installation

solar

The voltaic installation is composed of a meter, a panel, a circuit breaker (general, divisional, or differential), a differential switch, fuses, a fuse, and a contactor. All electrical work requires strict regulations in France, defined by the NF C 15 to 100 standard. The intervention of an electrician is then essential to avoid damage.

Strong points of electrical energy

Electricity is easy energy to transport. Indeed, it’s routing to the place of consumption from the production plant is done by a network of high voltage lines. The cost of this transport is also lower.

Moreover, it is the most accessible energy source on the market. The investments related to its use are relatively affordable and amortized in the shortest possible time. Electricity can also be adapted to any kind of situation. You can, for example, add thermostats to your air conditioner to regulate its temperature and program its start and stop according to your daily habits. This not only saves energy but also optimizes its operation.

Disadvantages of electrical energy

Electricity is secondary energy. In other words, it draws energy from nature’s primary sources before being transformed into electrical energy. For example, uranium must undergo fission to get electricity from a nuclear power plant. In addition, this source of energy often has a storage problem. Indeed, when consumption reaches its peak, large quantities of electricity are difficult to store. Among other things, the continuous production of electricity leads to power surges and shortages throughout the country.

Electrical installation costs

Apart from the labor of an electrician, you will need about $1,300 for the purchase of the components. If you are considering an electrical renovation, prices vary according to the home’s surface area: 60 $/m² for 100 m², 75 $/m² for 60 m², and 100 $/m² for a two-room apartment of 30 m².

Principle of aerovoltaics

solar

It is the combination of photovoltaic solar panels and thermal solar panels to heat a home. This phenomenon is due to the recovery of heated air from the inside. It is the external panels exposed to the sun that produce the electricity. These aerovoltaic panels are installed as a roof covering and are easily integrated into an open-work roof structure. They also have their own ventilation system. In some cases, these panels can be combined with a heat transfer fluid to contribute to the domestic hot water production.

Advantages of the aerovoltaic installation

The aerovoltaic system saves 50% of heating, contributing to reducing the energy bill. It also offers a cooling sensation during the night, especially in summer.

In terms of financial aid, this type of installation benefits from Ma Prime Rénov’ thanks to its hybrid photovoltaic and thermal system. The amount obtained varies from 1 000 to 2 500 $. The aerovoltaic system is also eligible for the reduced rate VAT and the zero rate loan. It is necessary to follow some steps to obtain this bonus.

Limits of the aerovoltaic system

As the aerovoltaic installation involves the use of photovoltaic solar panels, be aware that they are not properly ventilated. Indeed, the sun favors their heating. As a result, the yield of the cells can be degraded, and the increase in roof temperature can shorten the life of the insulation. Among other things, this device is difficult to install on a concrete roof.

Price of aerovoltaic systems

solar

To have an electrical power of 3 kW and a thermal production of 5,400 kW, you need to budget at least 15,000 $. With this amount, you can acquire a dozen aerovoltaic panels in roof integration.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next.

26
Jan, 2022
Green Building: Working Towards Sustainable Buildings

Green Building: Working Towards Sustainable Buildings

Buildings account for more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, buildings can be considered one of the primary causes of global warming. So, what is to be done?

Everyone nowadays is talking about going green. True, in order to solve the problem of global warming, we will need to incorporate environmentally friendly elements into every field at some point.

So, why not begin with green buildings?

Define Green Building

Define Green Building

This concept, also known as sustainable building or green construction, entails using more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly processes and building structures. Green construction can be traced back to America and their desire for more sustainable and energy-efficient building practices.

Green building is primarily concerned with reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts while creating positive ones. It is about building practices that promote a natural and healthy environment. It also includes processes that do not interfere with the earth’s natural resources, such as land and water. This holistic practice resembles the traditional building design concerns of durability, comfort, and economy in some ways. The green building principle takes into account the three dimensions of long-term development: economic, social, and environmental.

Aims and Objectives of Green Building

Aims and Objectives of Green Building

 

The vision of the green building concept is to stand in or near a building and smell fresh air while feeling the earth’s elements!

  • Conserve resources such as water, land, and energy by reducing consumption and increasing reuse.
  • Reduce your carbon footprint and fight global warming.
  • Cut back on waste.
  • Protect the environment while increasing productivity.

Main Features and Technologies of Green Building

Main Features and Technologies of Green Building

  1. Life Cycle Assessment

Life cycle assessment is a reliable analysis for assessing the environmental impacts that commercial buildings can have. It aids in the identification of environmental, social, and economic issues associated with building construction. It takes into account nearly every aspect, from raw material extraction to construction, repairs, maintenance, and disposal. For example, when evaluating a new building project, the methodology will consider its resource use, waste products, and any impacts on air or water quality.

Despite being one of the most effective methods for assessing the environmental impacts of building constructions, life cycle assessment has yet to be declared an efficient requirement of green building systems.

  1. Green Building Design

An environmentally sustainable design, also known as eco-design, entails designing buildings in accordance with sustainability principles. The design phase is one of the most important aspects of any construction project.

Buildings are now designed as environmentally optimal structures based on the green building concept, with an emphasis on efficient heating and cooling systems, the use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and solar water heaters, recycling or reusing building materials, and so on.

Many buildings have successfully integrated natural and “go green” principles. One Central Park, for example, is an award-winning building in Australia. The landscape design of the building was planned in collaboration with Patrick Blanc, a French botanist. One Central Park’s notable features include vertical hanging gardens, an internal water recycling plant, and a central-trigeneration plant that generates low-carbon electricity for the building. Another well-known green building is Australia’s UTS Faculty of Science, a modern structure with a unique environment.

Although sustainable building design is a good step toward a healthier environment, no two buildings are alike and thus cannot all be streamlined.

  1. Waste Reduction Strategy

A key feature of green architecture is that waste of energy, water, and materials should be minimized during the construction stage. There are several options for incorporating green building principles and reducing waste, such as providing compost bins and using biodegradable materials.

The Neutral Alliance, a collaboration of the government, some NGOs, and the forestry industry that created the website dontwastewood.com, is an excellent example. This website, which aims to reduce the number of wood products that end up in landfills, contains a wealth of information on wood recycling.

  1. Optimum Use of Materials

A wide range of ‘green’ building materials is readily available on the market. Because bamboo, dimension stone, recycled metal, and stone are non-toxic and reusable, they can be widely used in building construction. Furthermore, the United States Environmental Protection Agency advised the use of coal combustion products and foundry sand.

So, what do you think about green buildings?

 

 

22
Jan, 2022

Steel: An Environmentally Friendly Material

The rise of environmental concerns has led to searching for alternatives to extracting metals. That’s why it seems natural to look into recycling them. To get there, there are a few steps to follow.

The Steel Deposit

Steel is an alloy of carbon and iron. It is a material at the base of industrial development. It is also the first material to be recovered as it is easy to collect and reuse.

There are 2 main types of steel deposits:

The professional deposit is linked either to the iron and steel industry or to the manufacturers themselves. It includes:

  • Industrial packaging such as drums and cans used to package liquid industrial products
  • End-of-life products such as shipwrecks, electrical equipment, and automotive steel, representing between a quarter and a third of the scrap metal collected.
  • Household scrap: includes “monsters” (found in landfills, old household equipment, waste disposal sites) and household packaging.

Steel is used for three types of packaging:

  • Steel can represent three quarters, i.e., about 4 billion “drink cans” consumed in France;
  • Canned food or “operatized” cans;
  • Specialty cans.

There are many reasons to recycle these metal wastes:

  • to avoid environmental damage from mining ;
  • to save raw materials such as metals;
  • limit or reduce air pollution, etc.

These types of steel were known as “tinplate” in the past. Grouped under the acronym APE (steels for packaging), they are thin (about 0.24 mm and coated with varnish and tin).

The dominance of steel in the food packaging market is undeniable. Indeed, it constitutes three-quarters of the food packaging. It is used for:

– more than 85% in ready meals ;

– 94% in canned food for animals.

Statistics show that one thousand tons of steel are used to manufacture 13 million packages. However, those that are rejected represent more than 500,000 tons.

The Recovery of Steel

Concerning the time of recovery of steel, we count:

– one year for a “beverage can” ;

– ten years for a used car

– 30 to 150 years for a building or a bridge.

The steel recovery method is based on “positive sorting”. It consists of selecting products with more than 50% or 60% iron content. There are different ways of sorting this: either in the bottom ash treatment center or at the incineration outlet.

The residues must be well separated to improve the iron concentration in the final scrap. This is achieved by shredding, followed by magnetic sorting. The succession of sorting operations makes it possible to obtain scrap with more than 90% iron content. Once this is done, the scrap is cleaned, crushed, and densified by successive magnetic sorting to recover about 87% steel. In addition, there are also other ways to recover steel:

  • by composting ;
  • by selective collection or sorting of waste.
  • Instead of throwing away your household waste, call a scrap metal dealer to recover and recycle it.

Warehouse, Steel, Metal, Iron, Materials, Raw

The Benefits of Steel

Recycling steel helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This material can be recovered from deconstruction sites. It can also be reused after transformation.

Steel does not produce any toxic substances in contact with water or air. Thus, it does not represent any direct danger. Also, it does not create any waste. New coatings made from this material are increasingly environmentally friendly.

Every ton of steel produced by recycling reduces one ton of future production. Moreover, recycling represents a real opportunity in the field of steel construction.

3
Aug, 2021
Alternative House

What Is an Alternative House

Summary

– What is an alternative house?

– Different styles for the alternative house

Living differently, living at a lower cost in a different house, often much more ecological than the passive house, is alternative housing. Based on traditional practices brought back to the forefront by the use of modern or recycled materials, the alternative house is a breath of hope for the habitat of tomorrow.

What is an alternative house?

It’s not a question of alternation but another way of thinking about housing, than the traditional construction in bricks and breeze blocks in particular. Other materials, other forms than cubes and squares, the concept of the alternative house is defined above all by a global reflection: what do we expect from a house? Here, we want to build a house adapted to the needs and means of its occupants.

What we expect from a house

If the idea that comes to mind for many is to create a real estate inheritance or even an investment or a rental income, the alternative house is not their answer. If, on the other hand, you expect a home to shelter the family at the lowest possible cost and with the least likely impact on the environment, both during construction and operation, then the alternative house is made for you.

Building a house that meets your needs and desires

By first considering another technique than those used every day to build volumes, the occupants must adapt by thinking about the lifestyle they want, the income needed to finance a traditional construction chosen by default from a catalog of standard products with right-angled walls, a more or less sloping roof and materials that consume water and energy.

Longevity

Alternative House

Although initially designed to provide comfortable and economical housing for the life of its owners, the alternative house also achieves longevity equal to or much greater than that of traditional houses that are poorly thought out, poorly built or poorly maintained, victims of cracks, breaches, termites…

An ecological house

Therefore, thinking differently about housing is finding or imagining other ways of building and thinking about a house according to one’s real needs, primary means, and wishes regarding the traces of one’s existence on the planet. Our traditional homes, even modest ones, are designed to last a hundred years if they are well maintained, but which traditional houses made of bricks, concrete, or breeze blocks have not been destroyed long before because of the obsolescence of their services (distribution of surfaces, fittings, level of comfort and energy performance…)?

Good to know: the production of one ton of cement requires about 210 kWh of energy or 60 to 130 kg of fuel (or oil equivalent). While the world’s civil aviation is responsible for 2% of CO2 emissions, the manufacture of cement represents 7 to 8% of CO2 emissions due to human activities on the planet.

Different styles for the alternative house

Neither Romanesque, Baroque, nor Contemporary, because rather than talking about styles for the alternative house, it is better to identify the sources and architectural trends that have led to different alternative dwellings. Much more often realized in self-construction than built by companies, the alternative house has no other limit than the inventiveness of its creator. However, we can group the trends in alternative housing according to the reasons that led to the creation of each house.

The materials

As eco-builders know, the grey energy of construction is mainly due to the transportation of materials to the construction site. Therefore, to build with a low environmental impact, it is necessary to use a material whose source is close rather than to organize an energy-consuming supply.

Earth: it is the first material available on the construction site. The earthen house is no longer the simple cob hut. Still, it has benefited from the experience and genius of many builders to be declined in compressed earth blocks, adobes, and super-adobes used alone or in addition to a part of troglodyte house.

Wooden houses: in addition to the all-wooden or timber-frame home, which is making a significant comeback in residential housing, the log house is one of the first housing types practiced ancestrally in the forests.

Good to know: whatever the construction material, it must be waterproofed and insulated. For this purpose, there is a wide range of natural materials to be selected according to local availability.

Recycling

Recycling bottles, tires, and even containers to make a home was a crazy idea in the 1960s. However, it has become commonplace nowadays. These visionaries of the time anticipated the revalorization of materials from recycling but also the modular construction.

The architecture

The bioclimatic architecture consists of giving the house many possibilities to take advantage of free natural energy. Take, for instance, the orientation and shelter from the prevailing winds for an optimal location and exterior and interior shapes and structures to optimize yields and volumes for a rational comfort (eco-dome, revolving house, etc.). In addition, bioclimatism, once mocked, has given rise to advances that have become our everyday life in low energy standards, the passive house, and the BEPOS positive energy building.

Attention: Natural materials and insulation in a reasoned architecture should not include the nuisances and pollution caused by a construction site. The drastic reduction of pollutants, resources, and nuisances is now entitling buildings for environmental certification, which is undoubtedly becoming a standard.

Read more:

What Is a Low Energy House?

30
Jul, 2021
low-energy house

What Is a Low Energy House?

Summary

    – What is a low-energy house?

    – Maximum consumption target for a low-energy house

    – How to obtain the low-energy house qualification?

    – The interest of the low-energy house label

The low-energy house is a construction that meets the energy performance criteria of the low-energy building. The low-energy house qualification is obtained by studies, tests and measurements of the amount of energy required to live comfortably in the house, taking into account heating, cooling, ventilation, among others.

What is a low-energy house?

Initially, the low-energy label was launched as part of a study aimed at reducing the energy consumption of buildings and consequently limiting the level of greenhouse gas emissions from housing and real estate.

Subsequently, the low-energy house was defined to set a maximum consumption target for new residential buildings (apartment buildings and single-family homes) set at 50 kWhep/m²/year (kilowatt-hours of oil equivalent per m² of floor area per year).

The latest thermal regulations in force have made this objective of compliance with low-energy requirements to any new construction whose building permit was filed as from 2012.

Good to know: low-energy house applies to buildings that fall into class A of the energy label of the performance diagnosis.

Maximum consumption target for a low-energy house

low-energy house

The maximum consumption target of 50 kWhep/m²/year in primary energy is a base to be modulated according to:

    – the coefficient of a climatic zone (coefficient A), because the geographical position of the house on the territory influences its needs in heating and possibly in cooling (air conditioning);

    – the altitude coefficient (coefficient B) varies according to the altitude at which the house is located.

For each dwelling, the maximum primary energy consumption to receive the low-energy standards qualification of the building is measured according to the formula: 50 × (a + b).

The coefficient A can take 8 different values from 0.8 (hot regions) to 1.3 (cold regions). Thus, in hot regions, the limit of low-energy will be (50 × 0.8) = 40 kWhep/m²/year of maximum consumption in primary energy. In cold regions, it can reach (50 × 1.3) = 65 kWhep/m²/year.

The coefficient B is zero (0) for altitudes between sea level and 400 m; it will then be 0.1 up to 800 m altitudes, then 0.2 beyond 800 m.

How to qualify as a low-energy house?

The houses and apartments must meet the requirements of maximum primary energy consumption and pass the air permeability test of the construction carried out by the infiltrometry technique.

Primary energy consumption

The calculation of primary energy consumption considers the consumption of heating, cooling, ventilation, auxiliary equipment, production of domestic hot water and lighting.

The impact of the more or less green energy source used to calculate primary energy is essential. By convention, for 1 kWh of energy produced, the quantity of direct energy consumed is 0.6 kWh for wood and 2.58 kWh for electricity.

Blower door test

For the final blower door test, the value of the leakage rate through the envelope under a pressure difference of 4 Pa must be less than 0.6 m3/h.m² for a single-family house.

When is it required?

To obtain the low-energy label, you must act from the beginning of the project on all the levers of the entire construction of the house (shape, orientation, materials, insulation …) but also its equipment (heating, hot water, ventilation, lighting …) and the use of renewable energy (at least one device using renewable energy per single-family home built).

Note: the calculation of primary energy consumption and the final blower door test must be carried out by certified professionals, such as a design office or real estate diagnostician.

The interest of the low-energy house label

A low-energy house entitles you to benefits when you buy a new home, built to low-energy standards and even when you rent it.

In renovation, many energy renovation aids apply to insulation work. The eco-conditionality is met, and the work is carried out by companies or artisans recognized as environmental guarantors.

Read more:

Towards Sustainability | Building Your Home With Natural Materials

26
Jul, 2021
Green Building Materials

Green Building Materials: What Is It All About

Contents

– Ecological materials: their usefulness

– The characteristics of green materials

– The obstacles to the use of ecological materials

Ecological materials are construction materials whose impact on the environment and health is limited, as much for their production and transport and use. However, the numerous environmental problems linked to buildings have been known for a long time and have necessitated an awareness of the sector through ambitious reforms.

Ecological materials: their usefulness

The building industry is one of the largest energy-consuming sectors. This consumption is multi-faceted: from the energy needed to extract raw materials, transform and package them to the energy used for on-site implementation, including transport and recycling at the end of life. The will to be in a reduction of the consumption of resources and fossil energies thus obliges to think according to two ways:

– We can use traditional materials that require less energy consumption in the different forms mentioned. This implies working on production processes and logistics.

– We can also use more “natural” materials, i.e., materials that exist in their natural state. When these materials are derived from plant or animal biomass, they are called bio-sourced materials.

Thus, ecological materials are less polluting not only during their manufacture but also once installed. It is essential to keep in mind that many building products continue to emit chemical compounds once installed, polluting the indoor air.

The reduction of the types of pollution is to be taken in a broad sense, with, for example, materials that require less noisy tools to install them (fight against noise pollution) or that are better sound insulators.

The characteristics of ecological materials

The ecological materials must present a certain number of characteristics.

Renewable

For example, they must be easily renewable, i.e., they must not come from a limited source depleted with use. They must consume as little energy as possible for transportation, favoring short circuits (local materials used locally). Finally, the manufacturing processes must be as energy and raw-material-efficient as possible.

Recyclable

They must be recyclable so that they can be reused at least once as is, or even several times, reconditioned to obtain the same new material, at the end of the product’s life cycle and introduced into another process, still at the end of its life, to contribute to the manufacture of a different new product. Residues from the production of green materials should be used to provide low-cost, low-emission energy or be part of the production process for other green materials.

Non-polluting

Ecological materials must preserve the health of the operators who manufacture them and those who use them or of the final customer (for example, fewer pollutants in the indoor air).

Close to conventional materials

The dimensions and quantities of materials to be used should not be too far from the same characteristics of conventional materials so that construction workers can easily install them. Also, their performance according to the sector concerned must be compatible with the requirements of the regulation.

Note: The energy contained in the building materials must be taken into account and also be related to the expected life of the building. And that whatever the body of work, for example in insulation.

Use of ecological materials

Green Building Materials

The list is long because ecological materials exist in all sectors; we can only mention a few:

– For the shell, wood (provided it comes from sustainably managed forests with FSC label) and raw earth bricks for walls, green roofs for roofing.

– For insulation, vegetable wools (based on hemp, for example), animal wools, wool or wood fiber panels (same remark as for the shell), and cork correspond to many of the criteria stated.

– For coatings, you can choose organic paints and natural fabric textiles.

Important: Many building products called “natural” or “ecological” are not because there is no global standard certifying all ecological materials and guaranteeing this characteristic to the consumer. Be careful because some manufacturers do not hesitate to “self-label” their products with an extensive communication campaign without their proven ecological character. 

The brakes on the use of ecological materials

Among the brakes, the price. Indeed, ecological materials generate an additional cost of 10 to 30% for the same surfaces; this argument tends not to be a priority anymore, on the one hand, because these materials often allow having a lower energy consumption during the dwelling, on the other hand, because their more and more frequent use brings the prices down.

It is also necessary that the raw material is present in sufficient quantity, which is not always the case. In particular, there are conflicts of use; some materials are already used by other industrial transformation sectors (in the food industry, for example).

The argument of the use of local materials or even of the manufacture of materials on the building site (house in raw earth bricks or straw) is difficult to support within the framework of important construction programs which require a massive production of materials, corresponding to precise specifications, thus industrialization of the process which can be carried out only in some factories.

It is not always easy for them to comply with existing (non-ecological) technical standards, mainly when they are derived from natural substances. In this case, their conditioning, drying rate, or other characteristics may vary depending on the region of origin.

Ecological materials can sometimes require a specific technicality for their installation (straw house, for example), which not all construction workers have.

But an unstoppable argument.

In front of all these opposing arguments, we must put a positive one, which could erase them all: using materials coming from a reasonably managed biomass, i.e., producing more than the consumption we want to make of it, is the only way to build sustainably and to guarantee an efficient mix between:

– performance of the building;

– preservation of natural resources

– non-relocatable jobs;

– the fight against environmental pollution and the health safety of manufacturing personnel and building professionals.

Read more:

Towards Sustainability | Building Your Home With Natural Materials

23
Jul, 2021
save water (3)

Towards Sustainability | Why & How to Save Water

Summary

 – Why save water?

 – How to save water?

Water is the source of life; let’s preserve it!

It is relevant to know better our needs to manage our resources better.

To do this, we can save water, produce our electricity, use ecological heating or even carry out energy-saving work.

In this post, we will be looking at why save water?

The recovery and use of rainwater are some of the commitments of the US towards sustainability. However, rainwater harvesting is still not widespread in our homes despite being beneficial, very economical, and respecting our environment.

You can use rainwater:

 – for use outside the home;

 – inside the house.

The table below gives an idea of our daily water consumption.

Distribution of our daily consumption

Consommation

%

Drinking

1 %

Cooking

6 %

Tableware

10 %

Linen

12 %

Sanitary

20 %

Bath and shower

39 %

Cars – gardens

6 %

Miscellaneous (pool upgrades, floor cleaning)

6 %

Cost of water consumption

The cost of water is prohibitive because the water we use is collected, treated, distributed, stored, disposed of, and cleaned.

In addition to the cost of water, there are also fees, various other taxes, and VAT.

Therefore, it is essential to preserve it to reduce our water bill while protecting our environment.

How to save water?

save water (3)

To preserve our planet and reduce our water consumption, different ecological means, some of them not very expensive, are at your disposal, such as

    – rainwater harvesters to recover rainwater for non-drinking uses;

    – water consumption reducers;

    – and the good daily gestures that cost nothing.

Rainwater harvesters

It is not necessary to have a well to recover rainwater; other systems exist: concrete or plastic tanks, buried or on the surface. These are rainwater harvesters.

It is an ecological and economical solution. To do this, we collect the rainwater that runs off the roof through the gutters.

    – The water can be filtered and sent to a storage tank; it is then dispatched according to the needs (WC, washing floors, washing machine);

    – Water is collected in outdoor tanks or rainwater harvesters. These tanks are easy to use; this means of storing rainwater is used for:

        ◦ watering the garden;

        ◦ cleaning the car;

        ◦ making a pool replenishment.

Read more here: 

Consumption reducers

save water (3)

 

Simple and inexpensive devices, such as consumption reducers, allow us not to waste our planet’s water while reducing our consumption, namely:

    – the flow limiter-regulator placed on the end of the sink faucets, the sink, or on the shower hose;

    – the aerator-foam nozzle;

    – the shower stop which is mounted just before the showerhead and stops the water when you are soaping up;

    – the water-saving showerhead reduces water flow by up to 6 liters/minute while maintaining the same power as a conventional shower head;

    – Equip yourself with an economical two-speed toilet flush or a controllable speed toilet flush.

Good everyday gestures

Simple everyday gestures also allow you to consume intelligently, such as

    – taking a shower instead of a bath;

    – using a bucket and a sponge to wash the car;

    – repairing leaking taps and flushes because a tap that leaks one drop of water per second means 200 to 500 liters of water wasted per day.

 

Do you want some more ideas for sustainability? Continue reading our recent publications on:

And, don’t forget to share your comments below.

21
Jul, 2021

4 Materials That Will Help You Be More Sustainable During a Construction

The levels of pollution reached in recent decades may affect the quality of life of future generations, and have led to measures to reduce environmental impact in all areas. In the case of buildings, it is estimated that between 40 and 50% of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere come from the construction and use of buildings. This is perhaps the reason why awareness of sustainability and environmental friendliness has increased in recent years.

There are many measures that can be implemented to construct an environmentally friendly building, and one of them is the use of sustainable building materials. These elements are those that, both in their manufacture and in their placement and maintenance, have been made with a low impact on the environment. But what are those sustainable building materials you might ask. In this article, we are going to introduce you some of them for your own general knowledge or help you make a positive impact when building a property. Keep reading!

1. Wood

Sounds simple? Yes maybe! But while wood is no new material, this does not make it less sustainable. Wood has been used throughout history, but its properties are sometimes misunderstood. It is considered the material with the lowest environmental impact in its production, since during its life cycle it is able to eliminate a large amount of CO2.

It is necessary to highlight its insulating capacity, which is estimated to save between 50 and 60% in heating and cooling. In addition, wooden constructions tend to be built more quickly and can be up to 30% cheaper than brick or concrete options.

There are wood-based products used for insulation, such as fiberboard, made from waste generated by sawmills, or Oriented Strand Board (OSB) formed by layers of chips or wafers oriented in the same direction. In all cases, it will be necessary to certify that the wood used comes from a responsible forestry operation, which implies that the responsible company plants new trees for each tree felled.

2. Cellulose Fibers from Recycled Paper

Cellulose Fibers from Recycled Paper

Another material that can be used as insulation is cellulose fiber from recycled paper. It is made from reused newspaper sheets that have been treated with borax salts to give them fire retardant, insecticidal and antifungal properties.

Its properties are very similar to that of wood, which allows it to balance temperatures in winter and summer. It also has a low thermal conductivity coefficient and the energy required for its manufacture is very low, not exceeding 5 Kwh/m3.

3. Agglomerated Cork

Agglomerated cork is a natural product with very good thermal and acoustic insulation properties. It is a material with very low conductivity, fireproof, does not accumulate static electricity and does not absorb moisture. For this reason, it is mainly used for thermal insulation of homes.

In addition, cork comes from the bark of cork oaks and can be extracted without cutting down the tree, recreating itself over time, making it a highly durable material.

4. Fired Clay

Fired clay

This is a clay that has been heated to a temperature below 950ºC and to which certain natural treatments have been applied. These actions allow to preserve the low radioactivity and the good thermal inertia.

Another of the properties that make terracotta sustainable is its recyclability, as it is an inert and very stable material. Thus, the waste generated by its production can be reincorporated into the manufacturing circuit. It has a wide variety of uses in the construction sector, but it is mainly used for walls, facades and tiles.

You now know more about sustainable materials that can be used for construction and have a better idea of how they can help in making a positive impact on our planet. Have you ever used any of those materials, apart from wood which is very common? If yes how? Let us know more in the comment section below.

 

11
Feb, 2021

Creative Ideas To Reuse, Reduce And Recycle Old Clothes (Part 2)

Every season, you want to follow new fashions, and it is good that you shop because you stimulate the economy and business. But you also have to encourage ourselves to recycle clothes since it is another good alternative to preserve the environment. Six million tonnes of clothing are thrown away in Europe every year, of which only 25 percent are recycled, 2700 liters of water are needed to make a 250-gram cotton T-shirt. It’s therefore important to reuse clothes and buy ecological fabrics. But surely the question you ask yourself is how to recycle old clothes. Let’s check out some savvy ways to reuse old clothes!

#1. Spice Up Your T-Shirts

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You are probably just bored with some of your clothes and want to give them a more modern touch. Do you want to know how? It is very simple! You just need scissors and a little imagination. Fold a basic shirt in half but over the longest part of the garment. Then mark the drawing you are going to make and prepare to cut out. The truth is that you can innovate with hundreds of spectacular designs like this one that we show you.

#2. Make Chews For Your Dog By Reusing Old Towels, Socks, And Other Clothes

Even older garments can offer a second utility before being thrown away. Reusing old towels, socks, or jeans to make teethers for your pets is clear proof of this. In this case, you will always try to use cotton garments as raw material. 

#3. Make Baby Bibs From Used Clothing

Bibs are handy to prevent your babies from staining their clothes. They are garments that are designed to get dirty and wash continuously. If you have fabrics prepared for humidity, such as those used to make technical clothing, raincoats, or swimsuits, you can easily recycle them into long-suffering bibs. 

#4. Recycle The Sleeves Of A Sweater To Make Fingerless Gloves

One of the easiest clothing recycling projects is to cut the sleeves from an old sweater or shirt to make fingerless mittens or gloves. An ideal complement to be able to use your mobile phone in winter without your hands freezing. 

#5. Make A Case For Your Mobile Phone Or Sunglasses

Another good idea to recycle a shirt, sweater, or coat sleeves is to use them to make a protective cover for your mobile phone or shades. This way, you will avoid being rub against other objects when you carry them in the bag. 

#6. Use The Fabric Of Clothing That You Do Not Use To Upholster Chairs And Other Furniture

Using the fabric of your old clothes to upholster your furniture, you will be able to extend the life of the fabrics and add a touch of color to your home. 

#7. Using Denim To Make A Tool Holder Apron

If you like to do DIY projects beyond sewing, a tool holder apron may be handy. The back of some old jeans can provide us with a resistant fabric that you can use as raw material. 

#8. Make Some Slippers From An Old Sweater

If you have a thick wool sweater, you can make some warm slippers to walk around the house. Searching the net a bit, you will find many websites that offer us free patterns that you can use as a model to make them. 

#9. Make A Wall Organizer Out Of Pockets From Old Jeans

Our old jeans’ back pockets can help us keep order in your home if you use them to make organizers, which you can hang on the wall or inside your closets. 

#10. Make Cleaning Cloths From Cotton Garments

Perhaps the easiest way to reuse your old clothes is to recycle them as cleaning cloths. You must always use fabrics made with natural fibers such as cotton since synthetic fibers can scratch glass and other materials.

What do you think of this topic? Have you already recycled any garment? Check out the first part of this article to learn more savvy ways to reuse your old clothes!