Sustainable rehabilitation of buildings and homes

There are many ways to rehabilitate a building, and not all are the same. You can update its design, maintain it to meet the aesthetics of the place, and do so with a focus on environmental sustainability.

The sustainable rehabilitation of buildings is a trend that is gaining ground in both the public and private sectors.

What is sustainable rehabilitation?

Sustainable rehabilitation is the movement that seeks to eliminate from buildings and constructions elements and materials that are harmful to health and the environment.

This movement is a reflection of how research into the materials used in construction has evolved. Many old buildings use elements that were once common and that we now know are harmful.

Some examples include:

Concrete, which can have radioactive effects, just like granite.

Asbestos, which is used as insulation, can cause respiratory diseases and even lung cancer.

Radon, which is present in many soils, is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.

Certain paints and varnishes, which may be toxic by releasing toxic gases.

Plasterboard or panels, which can also release toxic substances depending on their composition.

The sustainable rehabilitation of buildings and homes seeks to eliminate these elements that are harmful in the long term and also harm the environment.

How can sustainable rehabilitation be carried out?

Ideally, these criteria should be taken into account when building the house and also when planning its maintenance. This is an upward trend in efficient houses and models that go beyond, such as passive houses .

When it comes to a building that has already been built or a house that you have just bought, the first thing to do is to carry out a study. To begin with, a diagnosis is necessary to identify materials and areas of action.

Once the problems have been detected, the harmful materials must be emptied. In other words, these materials must be removed to make room for new materials.

The next stage is construction, which involves installing the sustainable materials that have been chosen. Ideally, these materials would also help reduce energy consumption by providing better insulation.

Sustainable renovation should also take into account other aspects, such as introducing the use of renewable energy and other elements that reduce energy consumption, such as LED lights.

Ultimately, it is about addressing all the areas that influence the environmental impact of the building or home.

The objectives of sustainable rehabilitation

Sustainable building rehabilitation works in several areas that should serve to optimize the building's environmental ratios.

The objective of this movement begins by improving the health and safety conditions of the home, which is achieved by eliminating certain materials that are harmful to health.

In addition, it also seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the home and the building. This is where work is done on different objectives such as:

Prevent dampness and leaks.

Reduce the energy consumption or demand of the home and the building.

Reduce energy loss by improving building insulation.

Promote the use of renewable energy.

These improvements can be added to other more social ones, such as making the building accessible to people with disabilities.

These types of renovations usually cover the entire building, but can also focus on the home. To implement them, there are green mortgages and also special mortgages for buying and rehabilitating the home .  

Examples of sustainable rehabilitation

The scope of this sustainable rehabilitation may not always be very visible, but in other cases it is completely obvious. Here are some examples of sustainable rehabilitations and the improvements made:

Rehabilitation of 28 homes group A. Rojas (Zaragoza)

The Ovacen website presents this sustainable renovation, which has achieved a 60% reduction in the building's energy demand with an improvement in the thermal envelope and the implementation of renewable energy.