SUSTAINABLE REFORMS BARCELONA

When a home needs to be transformed, it is currently advisable to carry out a sustainable reform. To put things in order: there are several concepts related to sustainable reforms or “eco” reforms in the context of construction. The concepts of Bioclimatic, Bioconstruction, Biohabitability are increasingly heard when ecological reforms are to be carried out in Barcelona. All of them are directly or indirectly related to sustainable reforms . We are going to group them by the criteria that are taken into account in each of them and that have to do with Energy Efficiency, Health and respect for the Environment:

• Bioclimatic Reform (Passivhaus Reform)

It is about achieving a better use of natural resources to achieve a passive comprehensive reform that consumes less and is healthier:

• A reform with better insulation is achieved
• Better use is made of the sun, wind and natural light
• The aim is to achieve airtightness of the house.
• The house is heated by taking advantage of outside air temperatures (aerothermal energy)
• The reuse of water is promoted, such as grey water (sink and shower) for flushing toilets.
• Use of plant elements

When planning a new home, other criteria must be taken into account, such as:

• Orientation of the house to the South. Avoid openings to the North
• Protect the sunniest facades from the sun with light colours (white is best) and reflective surfaces (in hot climates)
• Air conditioning using the so-called Free Cooling
• Create an interior patio to act as the lung of the house
• Self-consumption with photovoltaic panels or wind turbines

• Sustainable reform or Bio construction:

They are also known as so-called “eco” reforms or ecological reforms in Barcelona. It involves using materials that respect the environment or that minimize their environmental impact:

• Reuse of materials (reduce-reuse-recycle materials)
• Use natural (controlled), non-toxic and local materials
• Use renewable energy
• Energy efficiency / Reducing energy consumption
• Use of materials that save more energy in their manufacturing and transportation process than traditional ones (less _CO2 emissions)
• Use of materials whose raw material includes recycled material
• Use of efficient air conditioning equipment and appliances
• Use of FSC-certified wood from controlled felling
• Use of LED lighting
• Circular economy

• Biohabitability reform (healthy reforms):

It is a concept of efficient and healthy home renovation. Damp areas that may promote the appearance of mould are repaired and the house is renovated to be free of damp (healthy). It is basically the one that looks after the health of its occupants, they are healthy renovations or renovations for comfort:

• Thermal and acoustic comfort (windows with thermal break and insulating glass)
• Insulating glass with a sealed chamber filled with SF6 or Argon gas
• Natural ventilation or programmed mechanical ventilation
• Energy efficiency
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• Use of building materials that allow the walls to breathe, for example with silicate or lime paints
• Use of natural and/or non-toxic materials that avoid volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in paints, furniture, varnishes, synthetic materials in general, etc.
• Promote the use of air purifiers, in the absence of direct ventilation
• Use installation materials that do not cause electrical or electromagnetic fields, high frequencies and radiation harmful to humans.
• Use indoor plants to help improve indoor air quality
• Use light bulbs whose light spectrum is most similar to the spectrum of natural light.
• Use lighting regulators
• Add organic shapes to the rooms, so that they remind us of nature while at home