Topics such as sustainability, healthy living and naturalness are increasingly conquering the world of house building. Architects and builders are increasingly attaching importance to a construction method in which ecology and economy are harmonized. Best example? The organic house!
But what actually distinguishes an organic house from other ecologically built houses such as the passive house or the energy-efficient house? What are the advantages for the builder and what additional costs should he expect? Is investing in an organic house actually worth it financially and energetically?
Building an organic house – the basic idea: ecology and economy in harmony
Sustainability is in the construction industryhas been an issue for a long time. The original idea behind the development of organic houses is that ecological and economic aspects should be combined under one roof. The typical organic house therefore consists of natural and renewable raw materials such as wood or clay, which at the same time reduce energy consumption in the house and ensure a healthy indoor climate.
EcologicallyBuilding – in the case of an organic house, this means that predominantly sustainable and pollutant-free resources are used both for the construction of the building shell and for the interior design. Particular attention is often paid to the CO2 balance as well as the energetic and moisture-regulating properties of the materials used. The latter is important in order to create a healthy indoor climate in which allergy sufferers also feel comfortable and mold has no chance.
Economicallybuilding – this is the second main focus of the organic house. Similar to passive or plus-energy houses, the goal is to build as efficiently as possible so that only little energy is used and other resources are conserved. For the residents, low energy consumption also means that the monthly household budget is sustainably reduced.
Build an organic house – exclusively natural and low-pollutant materials
The organic house stands for resource-saving and healthy construction. For this reason, ideally it should cover everything from the shell of the building to the building envelopeWall panelingand the interior design consists exclusively of low-pollutant, renewable and natural materials.
Typical materials used in the organic house are:
– Wood and clay for the facade
– Insulating materials such as flax, hemp, cellulose or straw
– Cork, wood or sustainable carpets for the floor
– Low-pollutant wallpapers and paints for interior design
Wood as a building material in particular usually forms the basis for the construction of an organic house, as it combines many ecologically valuable properties. Wood is a renewable raw material that binds more CO2 during its growth than is later released during processing into a building material. It can be completely biodegraded and, thanks to its moisture-regulating properties, ensures a pleasant indoor climate.
However, an organic house does not have to be a purely wooden house. Clay building materials and clay plaster systems also have similarly excellent properties and are often used in organic house construction.
Organic houses offer these advantages
Not only builders are increasingly interested in ecological construction, but also more and more property developers, which you can find on construction portals such asHausXXLClearly listed, offer the construction of organic houses. On the one hand, this is because the idea of an all-round healthy and sustainable life is manifesting itself in more and more areas, from nutrition to one's own lifestyle to the living environment. On the other hand, the organic house offers advantages that cannot be denied.
save energy
Thanks to their construction and good material properties, organic houses generally have lower energy consumption than conventionally planned single-family homes. Lower energy consumption also means that additional costs for residents are sustainably reduced. However, for maximum cost savings, the organic house should be planned as a passive or efficient house.
Live healthy
One aspect that is still neglected when building a house is the living environment. Especially those who are allergic to house dust, mold or other substances should make sure that healthy living is possible when choosing their house. In the organic house, the natural building materials regulate the humidity so that mold or dust is hardly possible. In addition, only low-pollutant building materials are used.
Save resources
Ultimately, the main argument for an organic house is that it is built to conserve resources and does not pose a burden on the environment. The building materials used usually grow back, can be recycled and come almost entirely from nature. In addition, it is extremely robust. Wood, for example, is considered an extremely resilient and long-lasting building material.
A positive energy balance – save energy with the organic house
In an organic house, in addition to the sustainable choice of materials, particular attention is paid to ensuring that subsequent energy consumption is kept as low as possible. This means that later costs are reduced sustainably, meaning that the investment in an organic house is not only ecologically but also economically profitable.
Organic houses can easily be converted into a passive house using simple means such as choosing the right thermal insulation and radiant heat heating integrated into the walls. To achieve this, some basic requirements should be taken into account during planning. Large windows and a south-facing orientation of the house, for example, ensure optimal use of the sun's heat.
Other types of houses such as the plus-energy house or an energy-efficient house can also be combined with the construction of the organic house in order to achieve the most positive energy balance possible. So you help the environment in two ways. On the one hand, resources are conserved when building a house. On the other hand, low energy consumption continues to protect the environment.
Building an organic house – How high are the investment costs?
There is no general answer to how high the additional costs are for building an organic house compared to other types of houses, as the prices always depend on the desired standard of equipment. A simple wood and clay house can certainly be built with a small budget, while some natural materials such as cork floors or insulation made from cellulose flakes can cost a lot.
It is therefore important to keep an eye on your own finances when planning - be it in collaboration with an architect or a property developer. This way you can plan an organic house tailored to your budget. It is also worth comparing the offers from different construction companies to really filter out the cheapest one.
If you design your organic house directly as an efficiency house, you also have the opportunity to take advantage of various subsidies from the Development Bank and Loan Agency for Reconstruction (KfW) or the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). Sustainable construction is also promoted at the community level by many municipalities. Simply ask the responsible building authority about funding options and information materials.
Now there is organicDream housesNot just a few specialized solid construction providers, but more and more prefabricated house builders are jumping on the eco-wave. This means you can design a complete organic house using ready-made modules and freely selectable kits, which often results in savings compared to houses planned from scratch.
Biohaus baun – efficiency and style in an architectural miracle
