What materials enhance the energy efficiency of a house in Mallorca?

Materials are a crucial decision in the field of construction; they have changed over time to be cheaper, to support more weight, to be more aesthetic and, perhaps the most important change of all, to be more energy efficient. The need to take responsibility for our footprint on the environment and the world's energy problems made construction adapt and look for solutions. Thus we arrived at different materials that make your home energy efficient and offer comfort, Epic construcciones list you some of them. 

Insulating concrete

This concrete structure consists of two walls with insulating filler in the middle, which can be glass, fibers or foam. It has a porous surface that makes it warmer than conventional concrete, in addition to insulating the ambient temperature. It is used mainly for walls.

Green polyurethane

This polyurethane foam used to be made of glass, but better results were achieved using bamboo or seaweed fibers as raw material. These fibers are inserted between two panels, generally metallic, and achieve greater thermal insulation as well as optimizing space, since they take up less space than standard panels. 

Resistant wood

This material is formed by joining plastic waste with wood fibers, which can be cellulose fibers, bamboo, peanut shells or straw, among others. It is resistant to mildew, malleable according to temperatures and is more durable than conventional plastic, as well as less toxic. It has low thermal conductivity, resulting in good insulation. 

Wood fiber

It is manufactured with waste from the lumber industry that undergoes a treatment to obtain the yarns or fibers. It is a good acoustic insulator and regulator of internal humidity, making it an ideal material for any construction.

Cork agglomerate

This is one of the best thermal insulators, it is made from 100% natural materials, has acoustic insulating qualities and is sterilized to remove any fungus or bacteria it possesses from nature.

Green roofing

It is a system that is incorporated to the walls or roofs of a building where the growth of plants is allowed. Although it must be taken into account that it requires waterproofing and the application of repellent for the roots to keep the structure safe, the benefits they have are enormous, such as the reduction of rainwater, the filtering of polluted air and sound insulation. In addition, covering building surfaces with vegetation reduces heat and protects them from damage.

Solar shingles

These small solar panels are combined with roof tiles. They are solar cells that convert solar radiation into electricity, generating clean energy and providing an aesthetic finish to the house. Lightweight and thin, they are easy to transport and install.

Low-E Glass

This low-e glass was developed to minimize the passage of light other than sunlight and to thermally insulate a house. It has a thin layer of metals that reflects certain wavelengths, such as UV or infrared rays, and reduces air leakage, allowing the room to be thermally controlled. They are highly resistant and have the same transparency as regular glass.

Smart windows

This glass also filters sunlight and infrared rays. These windows are made with a layer of nanocrystals that change when electricity passes through them. They have three modes of use, summer mode where they block the passage of heat but let in all the light, sleep mode where the passage of light and heat into the house is blocked, and winter mode where light and heat are let in.

Clay and straw

The oldest materials used to build houses are being studied, as they have surprised by their high energy efficiency. Clay is cheap and proved to be an excellent insulator. On the other hand, straw is a good insulator, is cheap and durable, so it is being implemented in wall coverings. 

Low-energy lights

The use of LED lights is already almost mandatory, in case you doubted about them we include them in the list. They consume 80% less energy than regular bulbs, have a longer life, come in a huge variety of colors and designs.

How to implement materials for an efficient home correctly?

We must take into account the location and the difficulties of the area, it is not the same to build in a warm place than in a cold one. Also, the design must be made with the owner's needs in mind, but prioritizing energy efficiency. It is necessary to incorporate insulation with the aforementioned materials. Integrating devices that control air flow and a thermostat to regulate the temperature are a wise decision. In addition to this, we can include recycled materials such as steel and plastics, we will benefit from the waste. 

Conclusion 

The construction industry in Mallorca has made several changes over the years to improve. They have increased the use of wastewater for construction, have decreased the use of polluting materials and from them have come great ideas to save energy in the construction process, in addition to generating new environment friendly materials. In recent years in Mallorca, the rehabilitation has been favored over the construction of new buildings, demonstrating that industries are starting to get involved. These materials are not the solution, but they are a helping brick in the great house that is our world.