Ecological houses, are they more or less expensive to build?

Recently, the concept of sustainable home and energy efficiency has become a very relevant reality in the construction sector. However, many people still believe that building an environmentally friendly home should be more expensive than one with conventional systems. However, it is not entirely true that ecological houses have to be more expensive.

Beyond the fact that ecological houses can represent a significant saving in energy costs—in some cases they can cover all electricity and other supply expenses—many still estimate that their construction is too costly. But even without considering the savings achieved month after month by not depending on excessive energy consumption, a sustainable home does not have to have a high price.

First of all, what characteristics do ecological houses have? Beyond being considered the homes of the future, the first characteristic is that they must be energy efficient. This is why they make use of mechanical ventilation systems and heat recovery units instead of the more traditional air conditioning or heating installations.

In addition, they require great thermal insulation that protects the homes from weather conditions, as good airtightness avoids the need to use air conditioning in the vast majority of cases. The orientation of the home and its structure will be factors dictated by the needs of energy saving, and aesthetic concerns must take a back seat, although sustainable homes are usually quite attractive.

So far, all high energy efficient homes would fit into this framework of characteristics. But ecological houses go a little further, and they usually include the following:

• Natural and environmentally friendly materials are used for their construction, and at no time are non-ecological processes opted for.
• The construction is also carried out without emitting pollution to the environment beyond what is strictly necessary.
• Materials must be sourced from locations nearby the home, as this avoids pollution generated by transporting materials.
• Natural resources are exploited as much as possible to generate renewable energy, another detail that can completely eliminate energy costs.

Starting in 2020, it will be mandatory in Spain for all new constructions to be of high energy efficiency, as the regulations will come into effect that will force Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. This does not mean that it is mandatory to build ecological houses, but those who choose this option will comply with the law easily.

Another way to achieve an ecological home is to apply the optional high-efficiency energy certifications, such as BREEAM or Passivhaus.

What do ecological houses cost?

When considering the price that building an ecological house may entail, it is important to understand that the final amount will depend on many factors, but it is estimated that in Spain the square meter usually costs around 1,200 euros, and environmentally friendly homes hover around a similar price. In reality, there isn't much difference.

Additionally, there are ecological houses that even with all the improvements for achieving energy efficiency can have a lower cost than a traditional home if specific materials such as adobe or straw are used.

On the other hand, when evaluating the prices of ecological houses, we must keep in mind that what most increases the price is never the materials or thermal insulation, but the purchase of the land. If we opt for rural areas or away from urban centers, it is possible that the land will make up a third of the budget, but in more important locations, the price of the land can be half or more of the total price of the home.

The land is also very important not only in its initial cost and location but also in the type of land it is. Sometimes, the cheapest ones end up being expensive because the foundation incurs a much greater expense.

Obviously, the price difference of an ecological house will be strongly influenced by other factors unrelated to sustainability itself, such as the luxury added, the treated design, or, of course, the total square meters.

Currently, many experts claim that ecological houses are the most necessary future, as the costs needed for every home to meet these requirements are really manageable if we consider the great savings that will be achieved throughout its lifespan.