Hello everyone,
For the sake of my future husband, I have been spending some time in Vienna lately, and since he hasn’t been too harsh so far, topics like family and building a house are now coming up. At the moment, we are looking into prefab home providers and plots of land.
My partner has developed a clear preference for alternative, seemingly “eco-friendly” building materials, especially for insulation. He wants the best possible energy efficiency, maybe even in the form of low-energy or passive houses (is that even possible with prefab construction?).
He’s also quite firm on things like “hemp! wood fibers! Definitely much better indoor air quality!” but I’m a bit skeptical. Are these insulation materials really that much better? Do they actually come without additives? Something like wood fiber insulation must be super flammable, right?
Depending on which sites you find when googling, you get contradictory opinions and experiences. Some say these insulation materials are treated and nonsense, while others say anyone who just covers everything with styrofoam has only themselves to blame.
Specifically, right now we are looking at providers like Zenker and their insulation (zenker-hausbau.at/Dämmung-mit-hanf/), is it any good? Should we avoid it?
Thanks a lot for reading and for any advice!
For the sake of my future husband, I have been spending some time in Vienna lately, and since he hasn’t been too harsh so far, topics like family and building a house are now coming up. At the moment, we are looking into prefab home providers and plots of land.
My partner has developed a clear preference for alternative, seemingly “eco-friendly” building materials, especially for insulation. He wants the best possible energy efficiency, maybe even in the form of low-energy or passive houses (is that even possible with prefab construction?).
He’s also quite firm on things like “hemp! wood fibers! Definitely much better indoor air quality!” but I’m a bit skeptical. Are these insulation materials really that much better? Do they actually come without additives? Something like wood fiber insulation must be super flammable, right?
Depending on which sites you find when googling, you get contradictory opinions and experiences. Some say these insulation materials are treated and nonsense, while others say anyone who just covers everything with styrofoam has only themselves to blame.
Specifically, right now we are looking at providers like Zenker and their insulation (zenker-hausbau.at/Dämmung-mit-hanf/), is it any good? Should we avoid it?
Thanks a lot for reading and for any advice!
Take a look here
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/blockhaus-vollholz-oder-staenderbauweise.30101/page-1
There is no perfect insulation material. Where does the material come from? Under what conditions is it produced?
Fire protection is regulated by guidelines that must be followed by all. Sometimes this is achieved through additives.
Disposal is often still a problem, whether eco-friendly materials or polystyrene. For the latter, there are good approaches to solutions; research is certainly ongoing for the others. What will be possible remains to be seen in the future.
A passive house works regardless of whether it is made of solid wood, timber frame, or masonry.
However, back in 2015, we couldn’t find a suitable masonry option and ended up choosing wood.
Check out Wir Leben Haus. Such systems are also available in Austria. Parts of our walls come from Austria.
Wishes, the ideal builder, and budget are a real challenge. See what you can realistically achieve.
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/blockhaus-vollholz-oder-staenderbauweise.30101/page-1
There is no perfect insulation material. Where does the material come from? Under what conditions is it produced?
Fire protection is regulated by guidelines that must be followed by all. Sometimes this is achieved through additives.
Disposal is often still a problem, whether eco-friendly materials or polystyrene. For the latter, there are good approaches to solutions; research is certainly ongoing for the others. What will be possible remains to be seen in the future.
A passive house works regardless of whether it is made of solid wood, timber frame, or masonry.
However, back in 2015, we couldn’t find a suitable masonry option and ended up choosing wood.
Check out Wir Leben Haus. Such systems are also available in Austria. Parts of our walls come from Austria.
Wishes, the ideal builder, and budget are a real challenge. See what you can realistically achieve.
Insulation. In my opinion, classic insulation from Knaus, Isover, or Rockwool consists of mats made from glass wool or stone wool. Both of these materials are completely safe and do not emit anything. After all, we are neither directly exposed to them nor do we ingest them.
Indoor climate is a term often used. What does it mean? A room has a temperature and humidity level. If the temperature is around 21°C (70°F) and the humidity is about 50%, and the air feels fresh, people tend to feel comfortable. You can achieve this without insulation materials—just a thick Ytong (aerated concrete) wall, plaster on both sides, a controlled ventilation system in the window, and that’s it. Nothing esoteric. Karsten
Indoor climate is a term often used. What does it mean? A room has a temperature and humidity level. If the temperature is around 21°C (70°F) and the humidity is about 50%, and the air feels fresh, people tend to feel comfortable. You can achieve this without insulation materials—just a thick Ytong (aerated concrete) wall, plaster on both sides, a controlled ventilation system in the window, and that’s it. Nothing esoteric. Karsten
C
chand198624 Feb 2019 19:53From an energy balance perspective, every house construction is a disaster. Just saying...
But there is nothing wrong with hemp. Personally, I doubt its “advantages,” but it does work.
The real influence on indoor climate comes from the air exchange rate (ventilation or mechanical ventilation systems) and the humidity level (enthalpy exchangers in mechanical ventilation). Natural materials that help with this are mainly houseplants and interior plaster (for example, clay). Insulation, in my opinion, is secondary to tertiary in importance.
But there is nothing wrong with hemp. Personally, I doubt its “advantages,” but it does work.
The real influence on indoor climate comes from the air exchange rate (ventilation or mechanical ventilation systems) and the humidity level (enthalpy exchangers in mechanical ventilation). Natural materials that help with this are mainly houseplants and interior plaster (for example, clay). Insulation, in my opinion, is secondary to tertiary in importance.
Thank you so much, everyone, honestly.
It's a relief to know that a passive house can really work with this version as well.
Thanks also for explaining the air exchange rate. I will research this further and not get distracted by all the marketing!
Thanks also for the link!
It's a relief to know that a passive house can really work with this version as well.
Thanks also for explaining the air exchange rate. I will research this further and not get distracted by all the marketing!
Thanks also for the link!
Ventilation for Passive House or heating system – take a look at
Stiebel Eltron LWZ 604 Air or Tecalor TCO 2.5
Is your space plan and budget fixed (the latter should be fairly generous)?
Then decide what you definitely want, Passive House or clay plaster.
From the start, determine what is most important to you. Most people first cut back after wishful thinking. The gap between wish and budget is too large.
Find a home builder who suits you. The chemistry has to be right. Passive House is important – then initially be open-minded whether wood, timber frame, or masonry.
If wood is important, then possibly make some compromises and choose not Passive House, but just energy-efficient.
Stiebel Eltron LWZ 604 Air or Tecalor TCO 2.5
Is your space plan and budget fixed (the latter should be fairly generous)?
Then decide what you definitely want, Passive House or clay plaster.
From the start, determine what is most important to you. Most people first cut back after wishful thinking. The gap between wish and budget is too large.
Find a home builder who suits you. The chemistry has to be right. Passive House is important – then initially be open-minded whether wood, timber frame, or masonry.
If wood is important, then possibly make some compromises and choose not Passive House, but just energy-efficient.
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