Eco – houses go “low cost”
It is well-known, eco-friendly house gives you the possibility not only to respect the environment and to live healthy, but the most of all helps you a lot in saving the energy. Less energy spent, less it will be your bill for the electricity! All these things sound very beautiful, who wouldn’t like to have a well-equipped totally eco-sustainable home? The most of us would be glad to have one of those luxury houses but in the time of economical crisis, that hit not only Europe, it is not that easy to afford it.
It is not easy but not even impossible! The right example comes from the Netherlands where recently, in the city of Nijmegen, is born the IbbN project (I buy affordable in Nijmegen). The city initiative, aimed at first – time buyers, has gathered 20 architects to produce about 30 designs – that go from detached timber cabins to redbrick terraced houses – with a construction costs around € 115,000. To apply for the IbbN loan is sufficient to have an annual income between €30,000 and €47,000.
The eco-sustainable and low cost residential housing of high efficiency has found its path also in Italy. It is called “Parco dei mulini” (Park of mills), as the name of the company that realized the project, and it’s the first eco-sustainable residential intervention in Lugo di Romagna, in the province of Ravenna, in the Emilia – Romagna region. The residential complex consists of six three floors buildings covering an area of 1,500m2 and it is constructed by the Cogefrin Bologna group according to the Gbc Home protocol standards, the Italian equivalent of the American rating system Leed for Home (Silver class – 50 points out of total 110).
Eleven social apartments of the building – each one different from the other depending on habitants necessities – look out to green area. The structure doesn’t need excavations for the foundation. It’s earthquake-proof and very light. There are photovoltaic panels and a solar thermal system for the production of the hot water installed on the building roof.
From Emilia-Romagna region we are moving to Trentino – Alto Adige, where the eco-sustainability housing, especially in tourism, is very popular. The first ecological maso, a typical local rural house approved by the agency Casa Clima (House Climate), was recently presented to the public. The owner of the house is the fruit company Sandwiesenhof from Gargazzone, in the province of Bolzano, member of the South Tyrol association gathering more than 1,550 agricultural constructions ready also to get “Casa Clima” certificate. To obtain it there are few necessary requirements to be taken into account, as, for example, the usage of renewable energy.
In the case of Sandwiesenhof the most important is the presence of a geothermal and photovoltaic system that assures energetic independence of the house. Moreover, the building has two flats constructed according to the green housing criteria and having a Climate A Gold certificate, maximum in terms of energy saving and eco-sustainability. All ecological aspects of building will be exposed to the tourists during a guided visit.
There is another building made of wood, with an energetic balance almost at zero level, that has gained the House Climate Gold – Nature certification. It is projected for the firm Alessio from Montiglio Monferrato in the province of Asti. The supporting structure, made of prefabricated panels of solid wood, has been created with the eco- soligno rubner construction interlocking system with low energy consumption. Panels are made without using glues and nails, in total respect of nature and quality of life.
The eco-sustainable houses are the future. The future that every day becomes nearer and easier to reach.
©2014 Emina Ristovic Italian Heritage Magazine
It is not easy but not even impossible! The right example comes from the Netherlands where recently, in the city of Nijmegen, is born the IbbN project (I buy affordable in Nijmegen). The city initiative, aimed at first – time buyers, has gathered 20 architects to produce about 30 designs – that go from detached timber cabins to redbrick terraced houses – with a construction costs around € 115,000. To apply for the IbbN loan is sufficient to have an annual income between €30,000 and €47,000.
The eco-sustainable and low cost residential housing of high efficiency has found its path also in Italy. It is called “Parco dei mulini” (Park of mills), as the name of the company that realized the project, and it’s the first eco-sustainable residential intervention in Lugo di Romagna, in the province of Ravenna, in the Emilia – Romagna region. The residential complex consists of six three floors buildings covering an area of 1,500m2 and it is constructed by the Cogefrin Bologna group according to the Gbc Home protocol standards, the Italian equivalent of the American rating system Leed for Home (Silver class – 50 points out of total 110).
Eleven social apartments of the building – each one different from the other depending on habitants necessities – look out to green area. The structure doesn’t need excavations for the foundation. It’s earthquake-proof and very light. There are photovoltaic panels and a solar thermal system for the production of the hot water installed on the building roof.
From Emilia-Romagna region we are moving to Trentino – Alto Adige, where the eco-sustainability housing, especially in tourism, is very popular. The first ecological maso, a typical local rural house approved by the agency Casa Clima (House Climate), was recently presented to the public. The owner of the house is the fruit company Sandwiesenhof from Gargazzone, in the province of Bolzano, member of the South Tyrol association gathering more than 1,550 agricultural constructions ready also to get “Casa Clima” certificate. To obtain it there are few necessary requirements to be taken into account, as, for example, the usage of renewable energy.
In the case of Sandwiesenhof the most important is the presence of a geothermal and photovoltaic system that assures energetic independence of the house. Moreover, the building has two flats constructed according to the green housing criteria and having a Climate A Gold certificate, maximum in terms of energy saving and eco-sustainability. All ecological aspects of building will be exposed to the tourists during a guided visit.
There is another building made of wood, with an energetic balance almost at zero level, that has gained the House Climate Gold – Nature certification. It is projected for the firm Alessio from Montiglio Monferrato in the province of Asti. The supporting structure, made of prefabricated panels of solid wood, has been created with the eco- soligno rubner construction interlocking system with low energy consumption. Panels are made without using glues and nails, in total respect of nature and quality of life.
The eco-sustainable houses are the future. The future that every day becomes nearer and easier to reach.
©2014 Emina Ristovic Italian Heritage Magazine