An ecological house, what is it? Here are some explanations

An ecological house is based on three major pillars: energy efficiency, health and well-being, and respect for the environment. An eco-friendly house is not just a fashion phenomenon. It becomes a necessity for its inhabitants, the environment and the survival of the planet. The construction of ecological houses, such as wooden houses, is developing more and more. This type of construction will become widespread in the coming decades…
How to build an ecological house?
The construction of a bioclimatic house must follow certain rules. Firstly, you must find the ideal land. It must be well exposed, sheltered from prevailing winds and not too humid. Next, you must choose the right thermal insulation to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels as much as possible. This is known as a low-energy passive house.
For the construction, a wooden framework is preferred, with external insulation made of natural materials such as wood wool or straw. Double glazing is essential for good thermal insulation of the frames. For the roof, it is best to use greenery, or even buried or insulated sarking. Also, the walls must have a high inertia in order to accumulate heat. The thicker the walls, the better. Finally, you must provide sustainable heating in wood, pellets, solar thermal. Ideally, a geothermal heat pump is associated with a thermodynamic water heater. For the floor/ground, you should give preference to low-temperature underfloor heating. Finally, certain equipment is essential inside the house: double-flow CMV, wood or pellet stove, etc…
Why choose this type of house?
Ecological houses are generally built for people who want to combine health, respect for the environment and lower energy bills. An ecological house indeed ensures the health of its occupants. All this while reducing the risk of allergies and respiratory problems. Ecological houses are generally as comfortable as so-called “normal” houses. With a green house, you use less electricity but also less water.
However, it is good to know that a passive or ecological house represents an initial investment that is 20% higher than a conventional house. However, the advantages are such, and above all the energy savings are so great, that this additional cost is quickly amortized. The energy consumption is still up to 90% lower than that of a conventional house. Also, this type of house will not deteriorate much over time. Finally, it is a house that emits less CO2, which is good for the planet!
How does an ecological house work?
The techniques and materials used for construction are carefully chosen to ensure a sustainable and comfortable life. In terms of comfort, it offers adequate warmth (thermal inertia) and constant humidity in every season. This makes it possible to control and anticipate energy expenditure. Also, because of the air that circulates naturally in it, an ecological house remains in most cases a house that contains positive energy. On the energy side, the electricity needed for everyday life comes from systems that use as little fossil fuel as possible. Natural energies are preferred, such as solar or wind power. Finally, rainwater is collected and used for sanitary facilities, watering the garden, etc…
Note that home automation is an additional tool that will allow a better control of energies. Also, the installation of certain technologies such as solar panels or photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and heat pumps allow tax reductions (tax credit). Also, these technologies can be financed thanks to an interest-free loan.
How to transform a conventional house into an ecological house?
In order not to make mistakes, it is preferable to make an appointment with a professional to acquire an energy audit and make an inventory of your home. He will explain all the steps to be taken for the desired improvements. First of all, you should focus on the insulation of the roof, floors and walls. You can then begin to change the joinery for reinforced insulation: doors, windows, etc.. And finally, you have to take care of the ventilation of the house, in order to improve the air quality. The energy savings made will allow you to amortize the cost of the work fairly quickly over time.
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