Innovations in Sustainable Coatings
How do we clad our buildings? Have you ever thought about choosing more sustainable or efficient cladding solutions?
Nowadays, we can’t help but consider more sustainable construction options, and the same applies to the cladding of any house or building. The new cladding solutions already available on the market offer significant advantages for the environment and human health. In general, they promote energy efficiency, reduce pollution, improve air quality and promote well-being. These solutions contribute to more sustainable buildings and can lead to significant long-term savings, as well as being in line with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
In this article, we propose 7 solutions that you should consider for your next project:
Vertical Gardens
Living walls made up of a variety of plants, creating a vertical ecosystem. Not only do they improve air quality and increase urban biodiversity, but they also provide acoustic and thermal insulation, contributing to the well-being of their occupants. Lisbon has several examples of vertical gardens, such as the recent garden installed at the CCB.
Green Roofs
Building roofs that are partially or completely covered with vegetation. They offer thermal regulation benefits, rainwater management and are habitats for wildlife, as well as providing additional green spaces in urban areas.
Ecological Paints and Coatings
Paints formulated with low levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds are chemical substances that evaporate easily at room temperature, are common in many products such as paints, solvents, and cleaning products, and can contribute to air pollution and health problems) and with natural or recycled raw materials. Examples are water-based or lime-based paints. They result in a lower environmental impact and improve indoor air quality, reducing potential health risks. Portugal is increasing its adoption of sustainable construction products in response to EU regulations.
Eco-Efficient Thermal Insulation
Insulation materials produced from sustainable resources that reduce heat loss and contribute to the building’s energy efficiency. They result in energy savings and improved indoor comfort. Examples include rock wool or cork panels. The sustainable insulation market is growing in Portugal, with more buildings seeking energy certification.
Rainwater harvesting systems
Systems designed to capture and reuse rainwater. They reduce the need for drinking water and are particularly useful for irrigation and flushing toilets. In Portugal, collected rainwater can be used for washing clothes, watering gardens and flushing toilets, but is not permitted for human consumption, bathing or dishwashing. The collection systems are designed to be independent of the drinking water network and include a filtering process before the water is stored or used.
Low Emissivity Glass
Special glazing that reflects heat but allows light to pass through, improving the energy efficiency of buildings by reducing the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer. Several modern commercial buildings in Portugal have adopted low-emissivity glass to improve energy efficiency.
Photovoltaic solar panels
These panels convert sunlight into electricity and can be installed on roofs or façades to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources, cut carbon emissions and cut energy costs in the long term. Portugal saw one of the largest increases in solar capacity in the EU in 2019.
Adopting more efficient and sustainable cladding solutions is not just a smart choice, it’s an imperative for building a more sustainable future. By integrating these innovations right from the design stage, we are not only improving our day-to-day lives, but also actively contributing to a more positive environmental legacy. Beelt recognizes the vital role that sustainable architecture plays in addressing climate change, and is committed to leading by example, taking responsibility for spreading the word about more efficient solutions. We invite everyone to join us on this journey towards sustainability.
