Buildings
Table of Contents
Introduction
Buildings use around 17.5% of global energy to power commercial and residential buildings, not including the energy needed to gather, ship and combine the materials for these buildings.
We can make an enormous dent in global emissions by picking eco-friendly materials, reducing shipping distances, and creating sustainable buildings that fit their climates including the new varying extremes.
When buildings are lost to wild fires, hurricanes, floods, and other destructive events, this only adds to the environmental burden, so building strong homes can further help reduce our impact.
Retrofitting Existing Buildings
Mining and deforestation, not to mention all the energy and shipping associated with new construction can make up a huge percentage of a building's emissions and footprint. One way to reduce this impact is to avoid (as much as possible) knocking down old buildings to build newer ones, since even eco-friendly designs to have a negative impact.
One major example is high rise buildings which are often blown up since they are expensive to maintain, and difficult to renovate. As a growing percentage of sky scrapers remain under-utilized since Covid, while homelessness rates climb, cities are beginning to turn to rezoning, so that the balance of homes vs offices can better serve their populations.
9:15 minute video shows off new elevator technology keeping business and home life separate in the same buildings.
Energy Use
Energy use of buildings is one of the biggest ways they impact our planet.
Energy is used to mine for and harvest building materials, then more is used in the shipping and building process.
After the building process, humanity uses around 17.5% of global energy to power commercial and residential buildings.
We then use more energy just to heat and cool buildings year round, as well as less energy intensive activities such as heating water, powering lights and various appliances.
By adjusting the way we build (and retrofit), we can significantly reduce our energy use. Some top methods include:
Retrofit instead of building new as this uses less resources and energy. If a building must be condemned, it's more eco-friendly to recover as many materials as possible for reuse in new buildings. These might include wood, bricks, tiles, slate roof tiles, doors, and old window panes.
Avoid building oversized buildings or rooms as these require more energy to heat and cool. High ceilings make heating a room particularly challenging and expensive.
Use sustainable and/or locally sourced materials.
Use materials and methods with decent insulation.
Using long-lasting materials and durable building methods means less repairs and longer lifespan, reducing the need to tear down and rebuild.
Insulation
R-Values of Insulations & Building Matrials
"Insulation level are specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-Value the better the thermal performance of the insulation." - EnergyStar: Insulation R-Values
Aircrete = 1.8R -2.2R per inch
Brick (common) =
Cellulose Blown (attic) = 3.2-3.7 per inch
Cellulose Blown (wall) = 3.8-3.9 per inch
Concrete = 0.07-1.11 (need to verify this one)
Cob =
Earth Ships (tires and dirt) =
Granite = 0.05 per inch
Hemp = 3.5R per inch of thickness
Mineral Wool (wall) = 3.1- 4 per inch
Plywood = 1.25 per inch
Polystyrene Board = 3.8-5 per inch
Sandstone/Limestone = 0.08 per inch
Sargablock =
Straw Bale =
Wood (hardwood) = 0.68 per 3/4 inch (as flooring)
Hemp
Lifespan: "As long as the building exists and the hemp block is protected by a finish (plaster, brick, etc.) it will not degrade and its technical performance will remain intact." - ISOHEMP Natural Building
Pros: Non-toxic, high insulation properties,
Living Spaces
Living space size and layout have a huge impact on energy use. Larger spaces require much more energy to artificially heat or cool.
Two-story (or higher), open layout buildings are also very inefficient as any warm air in the winter imediately goes upstairs causing heaters to overwork while trying to keep the downstairs at a comfortable temperature, and consequently the upstairs can easily overheat. Similarly in the summer, an air conditioner can make the downstairs feel icy while the upstairs swelters.
One way to retroactively ease this issue, is to cover anystairways to help keep the warmed or cooled air where it is needed. However if the open layout consists of two+ story tall rooms, this method will probably have no effect.
Water Reclamation
Many people don't realize that pumping water uses energy, and many treatment methods also use energy. To help reduce the energy needed, and help save water while we're at it, we can include water capture and reuse systems in and around our homes.
Click the Gardening/Landscaping button to learn more about topics such as rooftop gardens, rain gardens, xeriscaping and more. All of these can work alone or together to help capture and save water. They can even help prevent flood damage!
Types of Building
Aircrete
Cement produces a huge amount of CO2 and is a terrible insulator, but aircrete uses soap bubbles to reduce the amount of cement needed, while boosting the sound and heat insulation properties.
Building Amazing Dome Homes with Aircrete – A Beginner Friendly & Cost Effective Material
13:19 minute video discusses hoe these buildings are made, what's so special about the bricks used, and some of the challenges/opportunities concerning permitting.
Types of Roofing
Roof Gardens
These can consist of patios with potted plants, or be entirely covered in growing medium and have plants growing directly in the substrate.
When combined with solar roof panels, living plants can reduce the ambient roof temperature, helping the panels work more efficiently even during heatwaves. In return the panels can help shade the plants, reducing their watering needs.
Slate
Sod Roof
"A sod roof, or turf roof, is a traditional Scandinavian type of green roof covered with sod on top of several layers of birch bark on gently sloping wooden roof boards. Until the late 19th century, it was the most common roof on rural log houses in Norway and large parts of the rest of Scandinavia. Its distribution roughly corresponds to the distribution of the log building technique in the vernacular architecture of Finland and the Scandinavian peninsula. The load of approximately 250 kg per m2 of a sod roof is an advantage because it helps to compress the logs and make the walls more draught-proof. In winter the total load may well increase to 400 or 500 kg per m2 because of snow.[1] Sod is also a reasonably efficient insulator in a cold climate. The birch bark underneath ensures that the roof will be waterproof.
The term ‘sod roof’ is somewhat misleading, as the active, water-tight element of the roof is birch bark. The main purpose of the sod is to hold the birch bark in place. The roof might just as well have been called a "birch bark roof", but its grassy outward appearance is the reason for its name in Scandinavian languages: Norwegian and Swedish torvtak, Icelandic torfþak."
Thatched Roof
"Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge (Cladium mariscus), rushes, heather, or palm branches, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. Since the bulk of the vegetation stays dry and is densely packed—trapping air—thatching also functions as insulation. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates. Thatch is still employed by builders in developing countries, usually with low-cost local vegetation. By contrast, in some developed countries it is the choice of some affluent people who desire a rustic look for their home, would like a more ecologically friendly roof, or who have purchased an originally thatched abode. "
Education Opportunities
This section offers general education opportunities, though they haven't been verified, so always remember to use common sense and do your own research before making an investment.
For more specific education opportunities, such as learning to build or design Earthships, then visit the Earthship page to find organizations which specifically offer such courses and workshops.
North America
Canada
Domegaia: Workshops "Attend an Aircrete Workshop. The best way to learn is by doing. We have taught over 1000 people in just over 10 countries and 15 states in the USA and 2 Canadian provinces."
Nicaragua
InanItah: Natural Building "While visiting or volunteering at InanItah, there is an opportunity to gain experience in a range of natural building techniques, including: cob, wattle and cob, home made paints, earthen plasters, earthen flooring and carpentry. There are ongoing possibilities to see working demonstrations of stone point foundations, traditional outdoor stone floor building, timber framing, compost heated hot water and gravity-based drinkingwater systems. We sometimes offer natural building workshops."
USA
Domegaia: Workshops "Attend an Aircrete Workshop. The best way to learn is by doing. We have taught over 1000 people in just over 10 countries and 15 states in the USA and 2 Canadian provinces."
Resources
Aircrete
Domegaia: Resources "Tools & education to build anything with Aircrete. The life and home you’ve envisioned for yourself is more achievable than you think. With Domegaia’s proven equipment, education and collaboration, you can build and live your dream – and do it with your own two hands."
Organizations
International
Global Ecovillage Network An umbrella organization for sustainable communities, initiatives and ecologically-minded individuals worldwide.
North America
USA
The Clean Energy States Alliance "is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy.
CESA works with state leaders, federal agencies, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to develop clean energy programs and inclusive renewable energy markets. CESA members—mostly state agencies—include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country."
The Cohousing Association of the United States An active organization that promotes cohousing in America through conferences, workshops, tours, database directory, networking and more.
Habitat for Humanity "is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. We believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities."
New York
Adopt A House "is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency and is dedicated to help re-build our local communities by bringing valuable information, solutions and financial assistance to Long Island residents affected by Super Storm Sandy and other emergency situations. Run entirely by volunteers, Adopt A House's simple mission is to support recovery for Long Island's SouthShore by preparing and administering a comprehensive disaster aid and long term recovery program to individuals, families and the community. Adopt A House also contributes assistance to individuals in unfortunate emergency circumstances by easing financial burdens and offering help and guidance. We achieve this mission through multiple avenues including, but not limited to: educational workshops, community outreach, programs for financial assistance, community service, and acting as liaison between elected officials and registered families. We are constantly striving to improve our ability to assess housing needs, improve community services and raise funds that go directly to registered families and our programs."
Grants & Funding
North America
USA
Power Forward Communities "is a coalition of some of the country’s most trusted housing, climate, and community investment groups dedicated to decarbonizing and transforming American housing. We’re saving homeowners and renters money, reinvesting in communities, and tackling the climate crisis."
Self-Help Credit Union "Our mission is creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for all, especially people of color, women, rural residents and low-wealth families and communities.
Self-Help Credit Union has branches in NC, SC, FL and VA, and we offer remote services like online and mobile banking to make joining us easy no matter where you live." "We're poised to use a major funding award from the EPA to help create a clean energy future for all."
Connecticut
The Connecticut Green Bank "is the nation’s first green bank"