A look at sustainable materials in our home interior

Somewhere in the early 20^th century home was first called a “machine to live in” ( Le Corbusier, Towards a New Architecture published in 1923). That definition was too early fr its times, for today we are seeing it increasingly true in our times.

This definition is increasingly becoming reality for many reasons. Bur if we have to make a quick list of those factors  hear it is –  Sustainability, Design, Materials, and Technology

Sustainability

the term “sustainability” has been broadly applied to characterize improvements in areas like natural resources overexploitation, manufacturing operations (its energy use and polluting subproducts), the linear consumption of products, the direction of investments, citizen lifestyle, consumer purchasing behaviors, technological developments or business and general institutional changes. As long as an action causes little, less, or no harm to the natural world – under the belief (not always ensured) ecosystems will keep on operating and generating the conditions that allow for the quality of life of today’s modern societies not to decrease – someone is often claimed to be sustainable.

Simply put are we consuming more than what is replenished naturally? Scaringly most of the time the answer is yes we are consuming a lot more than what is replenished by nature. The solution lies in the materials we use and their recyclability. In the parlance of building materials Compacted mud, Steel, Bamboo, etc are considered to be great examples of such materials.

Design (sustainable designs)

Sustainability is no longer a luxury, sustainable building design is a necessity. There are many different ways to make a building sustainable. Reducing energy needs and having renewable energy is at the core of sustainable design. In a larger context Material and psychological sustainability is also important to evolve a design with sustainability at its core. We have put together few aspects which are very important to look at.

Build To Last

One of the most sustainable features is building to last. A building should last a long time. You need to use good quality construction and durable materials in your buildings. Besides what the building holds inside should be long-lasting as well.

 

Minimize Building Maintenance

Think about maintenance. You do not want to spend money and resources on constant maintenance. This should be a very important consideration to almost everything you do about setting up your home and its interior

 

Recyclable and Recycled Materials

Recyclable materials and Recycled materials are obvious choices. There are many options depending on what you are looking for and what is available. Metal, wood, glass, paper can all be recycled. there will be many product options using recycled content.

 

Use of Sustainable Materials

Do not use materials, paints, or construction glues high in Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. Use materials that can be easily recycled one day if need be or that are recycled.

 

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is usually the first thing to come to mind when discussing sustainability. The power source is very important when designing a sustainable building. In the Asian context, the best the option of course is Solar Panels. Photovoltaic or Solar Panels generate energy from the Sun and make your home a liveable powerhouse.

Energy Recovery

Install an ERV or Energy Recovery Ventilator. If you have exhaust fans and ducts in your building, for example in bathrooms, the ERV can use the heat from the exhaust to preheat or precool the air being brought into your building. It does not mix the exhaust air with the new air it just uses the heat.

Materials and Technology

Technology presents us with a handful of options of new materials and options to recycle. The effect of reducing the use of materials’ amounts is important in economic terms, by choosing the appropriate material and put it in the right place. It is also necessary to know the specifications and properties of the physical and chemical materials for optimization of their use. The understanding of this stage can enhance interior design in the future. Taking advantage of the types of materials used in interior design that can be recycled and re-manufactured reflects its beneficial effect on the environment and also reduces the consumption of agricultural original materials

Steel and Bamboo are two options that top the list. Still has high reliability and bamboo self replenishes at lightning speed. Technology adds to our ability to process this material even more.

Using environmentally preferable interior materials is an important issue, to reduce the flow of non-renewable resources into interior materials and pollutants from interior materials throughout the life cycle of interior materials. Therefore, environmentally sustainable interior design implies working toward the promotion of indoor environmental quality by improving indoor air quality and human comfort and the use of sustainable interior materials. The designer may also consider how materials are matched to the way a space actually is used. For instance, a harder, more cleanable surface makes sense in an entryway area that is subject to heavy foot traffic and mud, water, and detritus from the outdoors. In some cases, a designer may consider combining surfaces for increased sustainability and durability.

Conclusion

The interior space of our homes is changing faster than ever. This change was so far was driven by our quest for new materials. Now it’s no more the case. It’s driven more by our need to sustain our living and our ability to use materials that were erstwhile impossible to work with. The use of sustainable material is responsible behavior.  Today’s designers should increasingly look at sustainability at the center of design which will naturally touch life in a healthy way and raise its standards, that’s the future. ……………and that future is now

Why Us

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234677944.pdf

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/sustainability/article/21201301/six-sustainable-building-materials-to-look-for-in-2021

 

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