Environment-Conscious Design With Ecological Building Materials

摘要

The production and use of industrialized building materials and elements of today has resulted in a wasterful use of resources an increased environmental pollution, loss of oxygen nad unhealthy living conditions. The paper gives some data of the energy consumption and the environmental pollution created by the production of building materials, describes the principles of environmental conscious bioclimatic design in cold climates and explains possibilities of improving the indoor climate of buildings by the design, the heating system and the building materials chosen. It depicts some results of the research and development work done since 19 years at the building research institute at the University of Kassel, in improving the building material earth, and in developing enw appropriate earth ocnstruction techniques and roof systems with earth cover and vegetation. It shows different implementations of these techniques and components in ecological settlements built in Germany With three cae studies, a residence, a kindergarden and a health center it is demonstrated that ecologicla building not only saves energy and takes care of the environment but also cretes healthy living condition without raising the buildig costs.