Environmental awareness and the search for sustainable solutions are becoming increasingly widespread over the years. As a result of the increasing need to find products, working methods, and measures to reduce the environmental impact of building construction, green buildings have emerged.
What is a green building? It is an innovative construction approach to minimise the environmental impact of building structures. Based on eco-friendly practices and sustainable materials, this paradigm is a concrete response to the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve our planet’s natural resources.
The concept of ‘green building’, green building, is at the heart of green building, and is characterised by the use of advanced technologies and architectural solutions aimed at optimising energy efficiency, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources and promoting a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for occupants.
In the following paragraphs, we will discover the basic principles of green building, outlining its distinctive features and its tangible benefits.
The 5 principles of green building
Liveable Communities
The design of green buildings considers the needs and well-being of the communities that inhabit them. This implies not only the creation of comfortable and safe living spaces but also the promotion of social cohesion and connection with the surrounding environment.
Energy efficiency
Green buildings make optimal use of available energy resources, using the sun and the site to their advantage for heating, cooling and natural lighting. The aim is to minimise non-renewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The main strategies adopted to save energy include advanced thermal insulation of walls, roofs and floors to reduce heat loss, the installation of energy-efficient windows to maximise natural lighting and reduce heat loss, and the integration of energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems.
Indoor air quality
Green building promotes a healthy indoor environment by minimising exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants. This translates into the adoption of materials and products that improve air quality and the design of efficient ventilation systems.
Resource conservation
Green buildings are designed with a focus on the conservation of natural resources through the use of durable, recycled and sustainably recovered materials. This also includes the reduction and recycling of waste generated during the construction and demolition process.
Water conservation
Green building promotes water-efficient practices, both inside and outside buildings, through the adoption of efficient irrigation systems, the choice of native and drought-resistant plants and the implementation of rainwater harvesting technologies.
The role of materials
The use of environmentally sustainable materials not only reduces a building’s environmental impact but also often offers additional benefits such as improved indoor air quality, greater thermal and acoustic comfort, and improved weather and fire resistance.
The materials used in construction are carefully selected to ensure a low environmental impact throughout the building’s life cycle. They are characterised by their sourcing from renewable sources, their low environmental impact during production and their ability to be recycled or composted at the end of their use.
Among the most common eco-friendly materials used in green building are wood from sustainably managed forests, low-carbon concrete, raw clay for plaster and cladding, recycled glass, solar tiles and natural insulation materials such as cellulose fibre, cork and sheep’s wool.
Cork, the flagship of Diasen
In the context of bio-architecture, cork takes centre stage as a thermal insulator for walls, roofs, and floors, and we at Diasen know this well. Our most effective and customer-appreciated products are precisely cork-based.
Cork not only plays a central role in the production of bottle caps, but is also a real gem in the field of green building, a resource that is as versatile as it is environmentally friendly and is gaining more and more ground. Its thermo-insulating, acoustic and anti-vibration properties make it an irreplaceable companion for a wide range of applications inside buildings, providing a touch of comfort and sustainability.
Thanks to its unique cellular structure, permeated with air, it proves to be a first-class natural insulator, capable of protecting indoor spaces from harsh winter temperatures and maintaining a pleasant temperature all year round.
But the qualities of cork do not stop there. Its eco-sustainability is another distinguishing feature: obtained from the bark of the cork tree, its harvesting process does not harm the trees, which can continue to grow and contribute to the health of the environment. This sustainable harvesting cycle makes it an ethically responsible choice for green building, nurturing a vision of the future based on balance with nature.
Discover our bio-building cork products
Diasen is committed to promoting green building practices that respect the environment and improve people’s well-being. We aim for a fully sustainable building, marrying natural raw materials, with a focus on cork and limiting the use of synthetic materials to what is necessary.
Being green for us means differentiation, exploring new markets, being recognisable and believing in the sustainable uniqueness of our products. This approach is not just a way of working, but a philosophy that makes us intelligent, responsive and result-oriented, because only in this way can we offer intelligent solutions for a better future.
Discover our range of thermal and acoustic insulation products. Biomalts, screeds, skim coats, finishes and decorative thermal paints offer our customers a whole new way of understanding building – sustainable, environmentally friendly, but above all, people-friendly. Contact us to find out more.
