Modern Marbella villas can be both eco-friendly and luxurious
Designing a modern villa in Marbella has amazing benefits for new home builders in terms of how far you can make your budget stretch. But it’s easy for those looking to invest in the region to become so enamoured with the design choices available for the home of their dreams that they overlook the factContinue reading
This is one important way to improve the energy efficiency of an existing building.
The photos below show the Eco Vida Homes VH team applying external insulation to a renovation project in Guadalmina Marbella (SATE: Sistema de Aislamiento Térmico por Exterior). In a conventional building you can typically lose 30% of your heating and cooling energy because of poorly insulated walls. The cost isn’t just financial. Better insulation makesContinue reading
PV Panels for Solar Electricity in Spain
There are many reasons for wanting to generate renewable energy.Photovoltaic (PV) electricty is one source of renewable energy: Rising energy prices Climate change: its clean Compliance with the regulations Lower taxes as homes with good energy certificates are taxed less Income generation: when you’re not there your roof is generating income that can off setContinue reading
How to Assess the Financial Viability of Building a Home in Spain
How to Assess the Financial Viability of Building a Home in Spain
The financial viability of building a home in Spain boils down to two figures:
1.the value of your finished home
2.the costs of designing and building it and the cost of the land
Continue readingDesigning the Optimal Solar Orientation of Your Villa in Spain
The angle at which the sun’s rays hit your home varies during the day and from season to season. It can have a big effect on your heating / cooling costs and on the overall sense of comfort your home gives you. It should be studied in conjunction with the layout and function of the rooms and outside spaces, the window placement, the insulation / thermal mass, and heating and cooling systems. Getting this right is a big part of designing a comfortable energy efficient home.
Continue readingWhy Build Green In Spain
1. Build Green in Spain To Save Money
2. Build Green in Spain To Make Money
3. Build Green in Spain To Be More Comfortable
Build Green for Regulatory Reasons
I was going to tell you about the regulations but after more than 20 years living and amongst my Spanish cousins I have become anarchic like them….. to hell with the regulations!
Can You Build With Recycled Shipping Containers in Spain?
Yes: and it’s been done with great results. Here are some facts: 1. Shipping containers are in many ways an ideal building material. 2. They can provide a strong steel structure. 3. They are cheap to buy: often it’s cheaper to build a new one in China than return and empty one from Europe. 4.Continue reading
Green Building Accreditation Systems Explained
There are many different organisations around the world who offer green building accreditations. These are independent rating systems that measure the building’s “green” credentials against closely defined criteria. The mains ones are Breeam (UK), Leed (USA), DGNB (Germany) and CASBEE (Japan). In Spain we use the Spanish version of the Green Building Council which isContinue reading