The environment-friendly renovation

Renovation versus construction: the responsible match!

Building a project from A to Z or renovating an old house? How to make the right choice to carry out a project that reflects your personality, energy efficient but also environment friendly? In a very factual way, your budget should give you a good orientation.

Construction can quickly reach a high cost because you start from scratch. However, this can allow you to conduct your real estate project in a fully responsible and sustainable way, by designing a house that complies with the labels, certifications or Low Energy Building standards. In particular by choosing eco-materials to reduce your CO₂ emissions and low-energy consumption for your heating, ventilation, lighting, etc.

In the case of a renovation, the environmental impact is greater because it requires demolition and generates rubble. However, our knowledge of materials now allows us to build combinations between new and old elements, which means that less is wasted while optimizing what already exists, without having to rebuild everything.

Materials and consequences: how to make the right choices?

You have opted for eco-renovation to improve the energy performance of your home while preserving the environment? To move further in your approach, select eco-materials.

Eco-materials? It's very simple! More respectful of the environment and of your health, eco-designed throughout their entire life cycle (i.e. from production to disposal), eco-materials nevertheless guarantee the same technical qualities as other materials. Comfort, performance and supporting local, equitable development while contributing to the environmental qualities of your living space: who can say better?

Which energy improvements?

The heating system

Eco-renovation means choosing energy-efficient equipment by opting for wood heating, for example, when possible, or for low-energy household appliances. It also means considering the orientation of the rooms according to their use and the course of the sun, in order to optimize solar gains and the selection of your heating system. It is also an opportunity to invest in solar equipment such as a solar individual water heater for your domestic water. Or solutions such as geothermal energy that enhance the value of natural resources.

Insulation and ventilation

For a better thermal comfort of your home and to preserve the environment, it is imperative to insulate it. Why? Because in winter you will prevent heat from escaping and cut down on your energy consumption. While in summer, a good insulation will help keep the indoor temperature at a moderate level (limiting the use of air conditioning)

If you opt for interior insulation, choose recyclable, eco-designed materials such as fiberglass. And don't forget the quality of your glazing: there are now glass with reinforced thermal insulation. Lastly, when you think of insulation, also think of ventilation because the natural renewal of your home and air quality are essential for healthy living.

Eco-responsible behaviours

Combined with the use of environmentally friendly materials and with a view to accompanying your eco-renovation approach, your daily actions can also contribute to your responsible approach. Equipping your taps with foamers and limiting your time in the shower, maintaining a temperature of 19°C in your home in all rooms, choosing low-energy light bulbs and adopting the reflex of turning off the light in the rooms when leaving them are all environmentally friendly living behaviours.

Wanting to preserve the environment by choosing a responsible renovation to improve your home and its energy performance is an ambitious approach! It requires the use of environmentally friendly and local materials, the adoption of responsible behaviour and the provision of a good supply of energy. At the end of this journey? The satisfaction of a comfortable, environmentally friendly and healthy home for your family, a home that can even be approved and labelled to certify your commitment!

Credits: Weber Beamix - Design/Architect: Houben/van Mierlo