The green living concept represents a more humane approach to living in buildings. It involves taking care of both the tenants' quality of life and the environment due to the unbreakable bond between the two. We initiate the green living concept in our residential building at 57th Futoška Street. It shall include the existing eco-friendly segments that we have previously implemented in our construction works and upgrade our direction in sustainable construction.
Imagine a rose garden, mini park or a garden of your own to grow fruits and vegetables at the top of the building. The green roof has all the advantages of a backyard at an attractive location in the city. Besides resembling a mesmerizing green oasis in the middle of the city, green roofs put a noble touch to living in buildings and have many functional and economic advantages over ordinary roofs.
They provide thermal insulation and thus reduce heating costs by up to 20%, absorb sound, reduce noise and extend roof lifespan by protecting it from UV radiation while the greenery acts as air filter and creates a better quality of microclimate.
Green roof view
Protection against extreme temperature variations, UV radiation and other atmospheric impacts.
Green roofs retain atmospheric water and thus enable evaporation in urban climate and cool the environment.
Green roofs decrease pressure on drainage systems during heavy rainfall. It reduces surface runoff by 50-100% and delays the time of rainwater runoff entering the sewerage system.
Greenery purifies the air which leads to better quality of microclimate. Dust particles and air pollutants attach to the surface and get absorbed by the vegetation.
Research conducted in the European Union have shown that green roof lifespan is twice longer than the ordinary roof due to UV protection which makes green roofs quite a profitable investment.
Green roofs absorb sound thus providing noise barrier. Depending on roof layer type and thickness, noise can be reduced by up to 40 dB inside the green roof buildings.
As an extra layer of insulation, green roof provides additional protection: it serves as a shield from heat in summer and additional thermal insulation in winter. Depending on the substrate layer thickness, it provides heating savings by up to 20%.
Sustainable living involves implementation of a set of activities that directly affect and improve quality of life. The project includes a creative solution for Eco booth – a post assigned for waste sorting and disposal according to materials: plastic, paper and used cooking oil. Accordingly, we would like to give you a presentation of mini systems designed for environmental conservation within residential buildings.
Waste sorting and disposal
Herb and medicinal plant use in everyday life
Education and first steps of implementation
You save 17 trees by recycling one tonne of used paper and cardboard. We could stop deforestation and recycle paper instead.
Herbal and medicinal plants should be a constituent part of every living unit. There are numerous reasons for introducing greenery into your balcony:
1. To reduce amount of polluted air and smog
2. To eliminate presence of insects
3. To reduce noise in your apartment
4. To use fresh herbs as spices to prepare favorite meals
Every balcony can become a garden if you plant suitable plant species, we suggest:
1. For full sun and partial garden shade: Oregano, rose geranium and Virginia creeper
2. For full shade garden: Clematis
3. For full sun garden: Italian woodbine and Humulus lupulus
4. West facing apartments: Hedge bindweed, Indian cress and kiwi vine
5. East facing apartments: Schisandra chinensis
Look for recycling symbol on labels. We contribute to natural resources conservation and environmental protection by purchasing recyclable products or products made of recycled material. Packaging with white arrows symbol in black or green circle signifies that the product contains at least one recycled material. Product with white recycling label signifies it is suitable and desirable for recycling. Replace plastic bags with cotton canvas or biodegradable bags.
All buildings that have been constructed or reconstructed after 30 September 2012 must hold energy passport. Energy passport is a certificate which contains data on building's energy class which indicates the final annual energy consumption used for heating. Buildings are classified according to their energy efficiency class ranging from A+ for the lowest energy consumption (≤15 kWh/m²a) to G (>250 kWh/m²a) for the highest energy consumption.
In addition, this certificate contains data on climate, thermo-technical systems and elements of thermal insulation layer. You can analyze everything about insulation, installed windows, detailed calculation of energy consumption which allows you to prepare and review the estimated costs prior to moving in. Investor may not obtain building nor use permit without the passport. It is valid for 10 years.
Thermal insulation might be having the most important role in efficient energy consumption and cost savings. Besides their main function to prevent heat loss, insulation materials also prevent heat from entering during hot weather, to reduce outside noise and create a barrier against unfavorable weather conditions, humidity and wind.
External wall insulation may be installed during construction. This is the most efficient solution since insulation material is installed straight into the wall. Lifespan of quality insulation installed during construction lasts as long as the building itself. There are several types of insulation materials, however, expanded polystyrene foam and mineral wool are most commonly used.
Mineral wool has numerous advantages primarily because it is vapor-permeable and ensures excess moisture removal which prevents mould growth. It is natural and long-lasting material made of molten rock whose droplets get dispersed into mineral fibres. This is why a facade made of it lasts as long as the building. Not only that it provides better thermal insulation than polystyrene foam but it also provides sound insulation and greater protection against fire considering it is inflammable.
Aluminum doors and windows are recommended for larger glass surfaces due to excellent mechanical properties. Thermal layers provide even better quality of sound and thermal insulation properties. PVC is moisture resistant and performs as a great insulator. Other advantages include resistance against different weather impacts, durability and low maintenance.
Modern buildings have heat meters in each residential unit which allow for individual adjustment of heat and consumption monitoring. Heating costs for individual heat meters occur only for consumption during winter. In terms of the building, estimated cost savings are 40%.
In gas condensing boilers, water is heated through the heat of gas combustion, just as with non-condensing boilers. The difference is that condensing technology uses energy obtained from the flue gas which is mostly consisted of hot water vapor. Heat energy generated from the flue gas returns to heat exchange cycle.
As a material, glass does not have great heat insulation properties thus heat loss may occur. Therefore, one of primary tasks of modern glass production is prevention of heat loss through glass surface. Space between two glass panes acts as the most successful heat loss prevention system. Replacing air with an inert gas provides insulation. Low-emissivity glass prevents heat loss because the energy returns to place of its generation. This is achieved by coating the glass surface with metal oxide which only reflects thermal longwave radiation. Today, there is low-emissivity glass with thermal conductivity and heat transfer coefficient K ranging from 2.9 to 0.5 W/m2K during transfer from warm to the cool side of the glass.
