Construction of cottages from environmentally friendly material. Eco-friendly house - what materials to choose? A few words about sustainable furniture

Usually ecological problems associated with the consumption of fossil fuels and the use Vehicle with internal combustion engines. However, a large part of the environmental pollution comes from buildings. For the most part, construction is a process that significantly affects the environment. And recently, the efforts of many engineers and scientists are focused on the development of .

According to the Global Watch Institute (an independent organization that analyzes the most important global problems), one quarter of all wood and one sixth of fresh water used in construction. Over time, due to population growth and the migration of people towards the city, the situation will worsen. Demand for resources will constantly increase, and vital resources, especially water, will become scarce.

Modern eco-friendly materials

Eco-friendly alternative to drywall

Typically, drywall is made from gypsum, which requires significant heat and several mixing steps during production. After cement and steel, it is the third largest source of greenhouse gases among building materials. The United States alone produces 50 billion square meters drywall, which releases 200 million tons of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. A product called EcoRock is similar to conventional drywall, but its creation uses a substance that does not require the use of kilns and is obtained through natural chemical reactions, which allows to reduce energy consumption by 5 times, compared with traditional production.

Sustainable concrete production

The production of Portland cement, the binder in concrete, accounts for 7 to 8 percent of the total greenhouse gases produced by human activities. But fly ash, a waste from coal-fired power plants, can be used to replace at least half of the cement used to make concrete. In addition to the environmental benefits, the use of fly ash reduces the cost of concrete and improves the quality of the product.

Bamboo as an environmentally friendly building material

Bamboo is a durable building material that is increasingly referred to as environmentally friendly materials. Bamboo is lighter than steel, five times stronger than concrete, and can grow up to about 0.8 meters per day. Due to its rapid growth, it is more profitable to use than lumber from ordinary trees that take years to grow. In addition, it absorbs four times more carbon dioxide than most trees. Bamboo grows on most continents, so it is imported by many countries, while it can also be grown in Russia.

Pressed straw

Pressed straw is one of the most environmentally friendly building materials that can be used to insulate homes. This material is made from the straw left in the fields after the harvest of rice, wheat and other grains. Usually these by-products are burned, but pressed straw is quite durable and provides excellent insulation.

In the future, the use of green technologies in construction should lead to significant savings natural resources and improve the living conditions of people around the world. In Russia, this direction is still very poorly developed, but it is still gradually developing. It remains to be hoped that, thanks to more conscious attitude people to environmental problems, the level of applied green technologies will increase faster and faster, and they will be applied everywhere.

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The fashion for ecological construction has also reached our country. Disappointing data on the level of environmental pollution suggest the need for maximum protection and environmental cleanliness in own house. And if not everyone is "lucky" to acquire a building plot outside the city, in the forest zone, then at least the materials from which the house will be built, I want to choose the most environmentally friendly.

Since ancient times, the most natural building material, clay, has been known. If it is diluted with water in a special pit, kneaded, add crushed straw for rigidity, sand to reduce shrinkage, lime to increase moisture resistance, form all this into blocks and dry, we will get the most environmentally friendly building material - adobe brick. Preservation of heat in the cold season and coolness in summer in such a house is guaranteed. The relatively low cost of an adobe house is accompanied by high sound insulation and fire safety characteristics. The complete environmental friendliness of any home is completed by the same exterior and interior decoration, roofing materials and furniture inside the house.

Another environmentally friendly material that has long been used in construction is wood. What could be better than hand-hewn logs, laid in a log house, caulked with natural tow or moss, not painted or finished from the inside! Modern technologies allow the use of rounded logs, profiled and glued beams for the construction of houses. Any option will be more environmentally friendly than even natural stone, since the tree "breathes" through its pores, carrying out constant air exchange and maintaining the permissible humidity in the room. Speaking about the use of glued beams, they recall the composition of the glue used. Usually these are components that do not have a toxic effect on the human body, and given that the timber is outside, it practically does not affect the ecological component of the inside of the house.

Sometimes environmentally friendly wooden houses called into question and because to protect against moisture, fungus, rodents and fires, all structures are impregnated with special solutions. But they are also non-toxic substances, the presence of which is worth putting up with in order for them to fulfill their purpose.

Houses made of gas and foam concrete are quite environmentally friendly, since these building materials consist of water, cement, sand, lime, hardener and a foaming chemical. These building materials also allow the house to "breathe", have high performance heat saving, resistant to moisture and do not burn.

A greater impact on the environmental friendliness of the house have materials used as insulation and for interior decoration. The most natural are wood (except for plywood and chipboard), brick, ceramics, tuff, sand, clay. Chemical impurities are contained in cement, concrete, mineral wool, CSP panels, etc., but without them, such materials simply would not exist. Will reduce to zero all efforts to create an environmentally friendly home Decoration Materials produced during the processing of petroleum products (including plastic). Ceiling moldings made of polyurethane, vinyl and self-leveling floors are not environmentally friendly.

To all of the above, we add that the premises of an environmentally friendly house should be provided with constant access fresh air. Then on the walls, floors, ceilings and furniture, no matter what material they are made of, excessive moisture will not form, and pathogenic bacteria will not appear.

Recently, there has been a noticeable trend in construction towards the use of environmental technologies that do not harm the environment. Strict requirements are imposed on enterprises engaged in the production of building materials to comply with environmental safety. And this is not a tribute to fashion, but a necessity dictated by life itself. Giving preference to environmentally friendly building materials, we simultaneously take care of our health and the health of our descendants.

Despite the fact that information about the degree of environmental friendliness of certain building materials is clearly not enough, we all know that some materials are harmless, while others, on the contrary, pollute the environment to one degree or another.

Harmful or non-environmentally friendly building materials are those materials for the production of which synthetic materials are used that adversely affect the environment. In addition, such production requires more energy consumption. Natural self-decomposition or recycling of the resulting building materials is out of the question. After use, they are thrown into landfills, where they continue to pollute the air and soil.

Non-ecological building materials:

• Styrofoam - releases the toxic substance styrene, which provokes the occurrence of myocardial infarction and vein thrombosis.
• HBCDD (hexabromyocyclododecane) is added to heaters (extruded polystyrene and expanded polystyrene), taking into account the technology, to reduce their flammability. Not so long ago, the European Chemicals Agency declared HBCDD one of the most dangerous of the 14 known toxic substances.
• Heat-insulating plates are made on the basis of polyurethane. They contain toxic substances isocyanates.
• Linoleum, vinyl wallpaper and decorative film are widely used materials in construction, which are responsible for the content of heavy metals in the air. These substances, accumulating over time in the human body, can cause the development of tumors.
• Paints, varnishes, mastics of low quality are considered the most hazardous to health, as they contain lead, copper, as well as toluene, xylene and cresol, which are narcotic substances.
• Concrete is known to be dense and durable. Unfortunately, it is the density of concrete that prevents the free penetration of air and contributes to the amplification of electromagnetic waves.
• Reinforced concrete has the same disadvantages as concrete, but additionally it also shields electromagnetic radiation. As a result, people living or working in homes and offices built from such materials often suffer from fatigue.
• Polyvinyl chloride is a component of many varnishes and paints. In contact with air, assisted sunlight it decomposes, releasing hydrochloride, which in turn provokes diseases of the liver and blood vessels.
• The polyurethane foam in the composition of the dust has a bad effect on the skin, eyes and lungs.

When buying materials for the construction of your house, demand that you be issued a sanitary-epidemiological certificate for them. This conclusion will give you an idea of ​​the degree of toxicity of your chosen building material.

Fortunately, there are other materials, the presence of which in the room not only does not harm, but, on the contrary, has a positive effect on the physical and spiritual state of a person - environmentally friendly building materials.

Eco-friendly building materials

Environmentally friendly (environmentally friendly) building materials are materials that do not affect the environment during the manufacturing and operation of which. They are divided into two types: absolutely environmentally friendly and conditionally environmentally friendly.

Absolutely environmentally friendly building materials are generously presented to us by nature itself. These include wood, stone, natural adhesives, rubber, cork, silk, felt, cotton, Genuine Leather, natural drying oil, straw, bamboo, etc. All these materials have been used by man for the construction of houses from time immemorial. Their disadvantage is that they do not always respond technical requirements(insufficiently hardy and refractory, difficult to transport, etc.).

In this regard, conditionally environmentally friendly materials are currently widely used in construction, which are also made from natural resources, are safe for the environment, but have higher technical performance.

Conditionally ecological building materials include:

• brick
• tile
• roof tiles
• foam concrete blocks
• materials made of aluminum, silicon

The brick is made of clay without the use of chemical additives and dyes. The walls of this material are strong, durable, resistant to harmful effects environment. The least energy-intensive type of brick is considered to be one that is made from clay with the addition of straw reinforcing it. After drying in the sun, such a brick is ready for use. More than a quarter of the population of the entire planet lives in houses built of this kind of brick. In areas with a dry climate, they are especially durable.

Each of us has the power to make our lives better. According to statistics, a person spends most of his time indoors (at work or at home) about 75% of all time. Therefore, it is of great importance what this room is built from. Building our house from ecological materials or using them in the interior decoration of the premises, we create a unique and at the same time healthy atmosphere.

Tips: wood or mats made of straw, jute, bamboo are best suited for interior decoration of the walls of the room. AT last resort, plaster and paper wallpaper. If you decide to use parquet or laminate for flooring, then be sure to pay attention to whether it has a CE mark (meaning that the material is made according to European standards).

In pursuit of stylish interior each of us strives to equip an apartment in such a way that it pleases the eye and meets current ideas about fashionable design. Often, a variety of building and finishing materials are used for repairs to improve the aesthetic component, and most homeowners, in an effort to create from own apartment candy, they simply forget about the environmental safety of the premises. However, this issue is quite relevant, since many modern building materials are made on the basis of complex chemical compounds containing toxic elements, gradually poisoning the microclimate of the room and causing harm to health.

As a rule, the safety of building materials depends not only on their composition and the material from which they are made, but also on improper conditions of use. There are building materials that are dangerous in themselves, due to the high content of toxins, impurities of heavy metals, but there are also materials that can be harmful due to contact with environment. So, for example, completely natural wood, with prolonged contact with moisture, it can become a source of fungus, mold, bad smell and become a breeding ground for various bacteria. Thus, in order to secure your home, it is worth choosing environmentally friendly materials and using them wisely. About what building materials will help improve the interior and microclimate of your home, it is worth talking in more detail.

The safest ceiling materials

A stretch ceiling is great for embodying the most daring design ideas, but since this material is made on the basis of PVC, it has a relatively high level of toxicity and should not be used for residential areas such as a bedroom, living room,. Finishing plastic is also best used only in the bathroom and other areas where you spend a minimum of your time.

The best solution for the bedroom, nursery, living room, kitchen, will be a simple painting of the ceiling with water-dispersion paint. The characteristics of this material allow us to call it the most environmentally friendly for your home.

Eco-friendly wall decoration

Wallpaper is the most popular material for wall decoration, and if you want to take care of the environmental component of your home, then you should give preference. paper wallpaper. These truly sustainable materials are distinguished affordable price and are suitable for all living areas of your home, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom, where air humidity is high and there are temperature changes.

Also high level eco-safety have textile and plant wallpapers made from natural plant materials and not treated with chemicals. These types of wallpaper have good wear resistance, do not fade in the sun and do not contain any harmful substances. Equally important is the choice of wallpaper glue and it is worth giving preference to an adhesive composition based on starch and other natural additives.

You should not paint the walls with oil-based paints, as they contain lead and impurities of other heavy metals. In addition, when heated oil paints long time exude an extremely unpleasant odor.

Modern floor materials

One of the best floor coverings is parquet board or plain planed edged board . Both of these materials are completely natural and have a high level of environmental friendliness, so they can be used in the nursery, bedroom and other rooms of your home. But preferring such flooring, it is necessary to carefully choose a varnish or paint for their processing. Choose an expensive, high-quality and safe varnish, carefully read the information on the label before buying.

• Ceramic tile- another safe material made without the use of harmful chemicals. If you are thinking of an eco-friendly apartment renovation, given material perfect for the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, it has an enviable durability and practicality.
• Environmental friendliness laminate depends on its quality level. Most expensive modern varieties are manufactured in accordance with safety regulations and standards and are suitable for use in any area of ​​your home.
• Linoleum- one of the most unsafe materials, as it is made from petroleum products and contains a lot of chemical additives. Most dangerous are such types of material as relin and linoleum made on the basis of PVC compounds.
• carpet- does not have a high level of environmental hazard, but in some cases it can become a source of allergic reactions. If you want to lay carpet from natural pile, you should carefully care for it, otherwise it will become a haven for billions of micromites.

Choosing windows

When replacing window structures in the house, you should pay attention to wooden windows , characterized by an affordable price and a high level of environmental friendliness.

However, if you need a high level of heat and sound insulation, then preference should be given to structures based on aluminum profile , which, although they are much cheaper, but have the best durability and practicality.

PVC profile, is a completely artificial product, but thanks to modern methods processing, it is completely safe and suitable for all areas of the house.

What other designations should be looked for on the label?

Most manufacturers of modern building materials strive to achieve the greatest environmental friendliness of their products, and every self-respecting company labels its products. The environmental friendliness of building materials can be determined by the following marking:

• E1- completely safe building materials for the nursery and any other room.
• E2- suitable for kitchen, bathroom, corridors.
• E3- not suitable for residential premises, it is used for finishing technical premises.

Table of other common markings:

Total courtesies you can make right choice building materials that can provide the necessary environmental friendliness of the premises and not destroy its microclimate. It is always worth remembering that ecological building materials are not just a tribute to fashion, but an opportunity to protect yourself and your loved ones from the severe consequences of contact with unsafe chemicals, and therefore preserve your health.

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Discussion:

Elena Kosolobova said:

I believe that the environmental friendliness of the material in most cases can be determined in the old fashioned way, just by smell. For example, linoleum smells for a long time and then my head hurts. It is better to buy laminate.

welldoner said:

From myself I will add about windows: in no case should you chase cheapness. The offer of windows on the market is now such that prices are quite tasty, windows are cheap, a huge number of companies and enterprises produce them, and in conditions of fierce competition, when you need to keep the price low, and even leave yourself to eat, you have to save. If you take wooden ones, then here I would NOT advise chasing cheapness. Not only can they be completely jarred (the same race to reduce the cost of the manufacturer), but you also need to process them with good, expensive means, preferably regularly. Although, it all depends on the performance, of course.

We try to take care of our health by exercising the body and choosing healthy foods food, natural cosmetics, household chemicals. However, it often happens that we are the last to think about the environmental friendliness of our repair. And in vain, since this is one of the important components of our well-being.

The problem of choosing safe building materials for our housing in modern world- quite relevant, due to the release of many materials of toxic substances, often not visible and not felt, but accumulating in our body. Modern chemical industry offers a fairly wide range of materials for finishing houses and apartments, often prioritizing durability, beauty, but by no means safety for health.


Therefore, when choosing materials for repairs, consumers have to take care of their health.

Let's try to figure out which materials are the safest for health, considering them from the point of view of application in a private house and apartment.

Let's begin to consider exterior finish , which is more relevant for private homes.

Ecological materials in home decoration

Let's start with the fact that the material from which the house is built must also be environmentally friendly and safe, of course. best qualities owns a house wooden beam, brick, stone.

Experimental materials - aerated concrete, cinder blocks, foam block, expanded clay concrete, polystyrene concrete, sandwich panels have not been fully studied, studies about their dangers periodically appear.

Therefore, many new or well-forgotten environmentally friendly materials are now appearing: geokar (bricks made of peat), adobe blocks (made of clay and straw), kerpen (bricks made of ceramics), soil blocks (bricks made of sawdust needles, peat, clay).

An important issue remains the problem of using insulation for the home, they usually use mineral wool, foam glass and others inorganic materials(polyurethane foam, polystyrene). Manufacturers make sure they are safe, but there are studies that over time, the smallest particles of glass begin to stand out along with the dust in our home, without benefiting our health.
Therefore, organic natural heaters are best suited - ecowool (cellulose, paper, wood fiber), a layer of flax processing waste, cork cloth.

Ecological materials in the decoration of the apartment

Choose the material from which it is built apartment house most often it is no longer necessary, but it happens that residents want to insulate the walls of their rooms, especially those living in corner apartments, so advice on choosing wall insulation will be as relevant to them as it is to homeowners.

Ceiling.
Suspended and stretch ceiling, despite their beauty, are made entirely of non-natural materials, and are capable of releasing toxic volatile compounds into the air, this is especially true for the last floors and rooms where intense heating by sunlight occurs.

Therefore, most often it is better to give preference to painting the ceiling in water-dispersed paints or paints based on natural essential oils(polyester). And you can also glue the ceiling with ordinary paper wallpaper, or stretch natural cotton fabric, with which you can give the ceiling a variety of designs.

Walls.
Most often, people try to wallpaper them, but most use modern vinyl wallpaper made of PVC, which is not the most safe material. However, they are being replaced natural materials- babmukovye wallpaper, fabric, glass, wallpaper made from natural plant fibers (reed, reed, etc.) and of course, the most reliable - paper.


For lovers of natural aesthetics - still relevant wooden lining.

Do not forget that the glue for them must also be environmentally friendly (based on starch and casein).

Floor.
For flooring, the most environmentally friendly materials will be cork tree and parquet inexpensive options solid wood, natural carpet and natural linoleum, porcelain stoneware and ceramic tile, bamboo floor.

But laminate and linoleum, synthetic carpet are safe only if they are produced in compliance with all standards and expensive and well-known brands are bought.

As we see modern market offers many natural and safe analogues traditional materials for home decoration, so when planning repairs, you should study these materials. They, of course, will cost you more, but agree that health is priceless?