Introducing biosourced materials to social housing

Profondeville (Lustin), Belgium Environment and Resource efficiency

Description

Three dwellings have been built with local and bio-based materials in Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium. Social housing providers there have used sustainable materials, such as terracotta blocks, lime-hemp blocks for wall insulation and cellulose flakes for roof insulation, exterior lime plaster, interior clay plaster or natural plaster, ensuring that this new approach is in harmony with the existing buildings.

Context

One of the major challenges for Wallonia, in the context of the fight against climate change and taking into account European and international objectives, is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 80 to 95% in 2050 compared to 1990 (55% by 2030).

This goal will obviously have repercussions also in the field of housing and especially social (public) housing. This project in Lustin is aiming at achieving ambitious climate goals by building sustainable homes with bio-based, local materials.

Issues tackled

The objective of the project is to demonstrate that it is possible to offer social housing that is energy efficient, sustainable, well-integrated into the urban fabric while guaranteeing an affordable construction cost with local biobased materials.

Actors involved

  • Wallonia
  • La Société wallonne du Logement (SWL)
  • Véronique MASSAUX, an architecte and a project leader

Actions carried out

  • An accomplished project integrating social, territorial, demographic, environmental issues that demonstrates the interest in developing the use of local and natural resources. This requires a project coordinator who is sensitive to these issues but also supportive policy for such kind of projects and companies that develop natural materials.

Results

K value or the overall level of insulation – 29

EW level (overall energy performance level of the building) – 47

Level of specific annual primary energy consumption – 73 kWh/m2 per year

LABEL A with a technicality that is quite simple and accessible for the occupants.

Why it works

Even on a very small scale, a comprehensive and environmentally friendly approach is possible. Nevertheless, the established process must be repeatable regardless of the size of the project.

 

Scale

local

More information

Find out more here: https://clusters.wallonie.be/ecoconstruction-fr/massaux-veronique.html?IDC=3424&IDD=18121

Amélie COMPERE

a.compere@swl.be

 

https://www.swl.be/
Follow us on
Back to top
Back to top