Does sustainability have limits?

Sustainability in construction in Latvia started to be discussed twenty years ago, noting that it would be good to focus on such a practice. But let’s be honest, in reality, for many years, any building that had even an element of sustainability was almost a miracle. While sustainability had not become mainstream in the European Union, in most countries, including Latvia, construction was cheaper, and this was especially applicable to the pre-crisis period around 2006. For example, passive houses or simply wooden houses could be considered sustainable buildings at that time, which had therefore become expensive, but only a few people were buying them.

The idea of sustainable construction dates back to the late 1960s when construction companies began to explore more ecological ways of building in order to achieve harmony with nature. Soon the idea of sustainability as such gained momentum – in the seventies, during the oil crisis, people began to understand that energy resources should be saved. A more or less clear definition of what sustainable construction is, was formulated in 1994 by Professor Charles Kibert. He said that sustainable construction is healthy construction based on care for the environment and the responsible further management of buildings, observing the principles of ecology and efficient use of resources. It is probably still the most complete and concise definition.

Sustainable construction in Latvia only began to be seriously considered when the European Commission started talking about it, coming up with future goals and developing various recommendations for industries. Gradually, large customers, banks and other institutions began to pay attention. One might say that the idea of sustainable construction in Latvia is only experiencing the fastest development phase now, when the requirement for compliance with sustainability principles has become mandatory in the European Union.

The criteria for sustainable construction were formulated by the above scientist Kibert, such as the maximum use of recycled materials, minimised use of energy resources, nature protection, quality, use of renewable resources in the construction process and the like. However, during half a century, the first definitions did not give the desired result – construction is still the sector that generates the largest amount of CO2 emissions and, accordingly, the most damage to nature and the environment, in which we live and in which not only us but also our future generations will have to live. Experts of Statista have found that the construction industry alone uses 40% of the world’s energy; it has to take almost half of the responsibility for climate change, and all this doesn’t even factor in air or noise pollution.

Fortunately, the world has moved on and today sustainability in construction is no longer only considered during the construction process but also in the result itself and a series of by-products as well. In addition, the sustainability index is increasingly measured not in abstract concepts but in the amount of CO2 emissions, analysing how much of a footprint the entire construction process will leave, starting with the production of the necessary building material, the construction of the building, the use and management of the building, and even its disposal after the end of use.

For many years, researchers and experts in the relevant field have calculated that truly sustainable projects not only have a smaller impact on the environment but in the long term also allow the owners of such buildings to gain economic benefits – spend less on home maintenance and management, reduce energy consumption, maintain better health thanks to air quality and more natural materials, and eventually even get bank financing at lower rates, as well as preserve the value of the property for as long as possible, and even increase it. In Great Britain, for example, it has been found at the governmental level that just by incorporating energy-saving solutions into existing houses, their value increases by an average of 14%, regardless of the age of the house; but in some cases, it has increased by as much as 38%.

The experienced specialists of BONO House have designed and are building a house that could possibly become a benchmark for a sustainable house. The idea of sustainability is not only respected at each of the above stages but even further, expanding this idea and thinking about the product to be sold and quality of life, as well as the well-being, innovation, health of the residents of this house, and more.

During the development of the house, we have discovered a certain magic and even pleasure in creating it, as every activity is aimed at achieving long-term goals specifically in the field of sustainability. It is a shift towards lifestyles and business models that contribute to a sustainable future and a better life for all involved. Every step aimed at creating a sustainable house has an immeasurable added value; for example, if we want a new technology in the house, we support Latvian scientists financially, they create a product that later has the potential to become an exportable business and create new jobs while also promoting social sustainability, and the house incorporates the latest technology, which, for example, helps to save money and energy during the use of the building. The synergy, the chain that is formed by creating just one house, is unimaginable and leads us back to the question asked in the title – does sustainability have limits? It doesn’t seem to.