Figure 3. A simplified representation of the heat transfer coefficient limits for a few specific building components.
In general, the first step towards reducing energy consumption in a house is to use a lot of insulation. The lower the heat transfer through the building envelope, the better. One limitation to this is that the thicker you make your shell, the smaller you make your interior area. In the case of our house, we're probably looking at a minimum of 35 cm (≡ 14") thick exterior walls. This is for timber construction[1], construction in masonry or concrete usually ends up being thicker for the same insulating properties.
[1] Actually, it is more appropriate to say "mixed" construction. About a quarter to a third of the shell will probably be of concrete because our building land is on a slope.
Hi ersie
ReplyDeleteYou will build your walls with concrete !
Conbrete is the expensivst material on site.
You have better conditions to beton ?
http://www.haus-forum.ch/hobby-freizeit/4407-holcim-wuerenlingen-tag-der-offenen-tuer-20-sept-2008-a.html#post57507
A timber construktion with free forms:
http://www.a-zholz.ch/index.php?id=91
A minergie p eco house with lignotrend.
Wellingtonia
Hi Wellingtonia,
ReplyDeleteWe're building on a slope. Only the parts of the shell that touch the side of the slope will be in concrete. The rest will be made of wood, with Eternit or similar for the rear-ventilated facade.