"Durabilis Domus" is the Latin translation of "Sustainable Home".

Durabilis Domus aims to accompany you to the energy efficiency of your home.

Indeed, in Europe, for example, buildings account for almost 40% of the total energy consumption and nearly 35% of greenhouse gas emissions.

In this area there, about the Housing and Building, we can all act ! All of us !!

What is a Sustainable Home ?

It's just a home which impacts the environment as little as possible, throughout his life since its construction project and implementation to its future deconstruction.

Please consider these four main areas to make your home eco-friendly :

1 - CONSTRUCTION (in case of new construction)

Prefer the rehabilitation of an existing home rather than build a new one that will need a new land. In case of construction, the location of housing is very important in order to minimize the impacts.

Prefer housing that its location will avoid using individual car. Indeed, rehabilitate a building is better than building a new one in the countryside which would require the use of vehicles for travel to work, shopping etc.

Adopt the "bioclimatic" approach and make the most of the benefits of the site.

Examples: Depending on the climate (heating and / or cooling needs), orient the building according to the Sun course during a day, during all the year. Maximize the contributions solar or reductions solar. Orient the building according to the prevailing winds, according to the masks nearby. The wind helps cooling a building, so it generates heat losses if it is heated.

2 - MATERIALS (in case of new construction or renovation)

Prefer building materials and items of equipment with low "embodied energy", materials that required little non-renewable energy for their production.

Avoid non recyclable materials that require large energy needs for recycling.

Avoid materials made from petroleum products.

Thus, prefer local and vegetal materials, wood is an excellent natural material, usually local, it stores CO2 and of course it is easily recyclable.

Example: The Wood! A wooden construction can be achieved in several ways, usually according to two types: solid wood building (house made of logs, for example), or wood-frame building (home structure in wood: wooden posts and beams)

3 - INSULATION, AIRTIGHTNESS and VENTILATION (in case of new construction or renovation)

Well isolate the building is an absolute necessity to reduce heat exchange between inside and outside.

Consider the entire building envelope. Imagine that your home is a cube, and ensure that each face of the cube is properly insulated: the roof, walls and the lower floor.

Insulate according to the rules : the installation of the insulation must be made with great care. Insulate is good. Although well insulate, it's much better!

As materials, prefer local and vegetal insulation. Use materials with low "embodied energy" : wood fiber, hemp wool, cotton wool, cellulose ...

Seal the building, avoid any air leakage for any accommodation located in a climate with cold winter and / or hot season.

Pay attention at the ventilation of the Housing to ensure clean and comfortable air for the occupants but also for the accommodation in itself. A housing needs to breathe! particular to ensure a proper balance of moisture. If possible, during the cold season, recover heat from extracted air. In hot weather, cool the hot air coming from outside with the inside cooler air

4 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY and RENEWABLE ENERGY (in case of new construction or renovation)

The best renewable energy is the energy that is not consumed!

Control and manage your energy needs

Energy savings are the best solutions (hence the need to isolate the Housing)

However, any housing need energy to its occupants, even if only for domestic hot water. Try to take the maximum advantage with renewable energy systems : solar thermal, wood (heating), wind, solar photovoltaic, geothermal ...

In general, pay attention to all the materials called to be present in the Building. For each material, pay attention to its composition (With what is it made? How is it made?). And its source (where does it come from ?)

Before renovating your home :

it is necessary to know your housing : clearly identify its composition and particularly its weaknesses in order to correct them..

Durabilis-Domus Mobile Application for iPhone/iPad helps you to

- Learn more about your Home

- To assess its energy performance

Test it !