It is estimated that around 60% of a house’s environmental impact is concentrated in the structure and envelope. Therefore, at Mirai Homes, we use wood as the main material for the structure and envelope.
To evaluate the environmental impact of a material, one of the elements studied is the embodied carbon coefficient, which measures the carbon emissions required for the extraction and processing of a material until its final use.
As can be seen, wood is by far the most eco-friendly material compared to steel and concrete. Additionally, wood is considered a material that “sequesters” carbon thanks to the photosynthesis process, where the tree captures carbon to convert it into cellulose. It is estimated that one ton of carbon in a tree equals 3.7 tons of CO2.
Other materials we use in construction and finishing works are:
At Mirai Homes, we implement responsible and eco-friendly waste management at every stage of construction. We are committed to reducing, reusing, and recycling waste materials to minimize environmental impact. We use construction techniques that generate less waste and select recyclable and biodegradable materials whenever possible. Additionally, we carefully manage hazardous waste to prevent contamination and work with suppliers and contractors who share our commitment to sustainability. Through these practices, we not only protect the environment but also promote a cleaner and safer construction environment.
The primary goal of the utilities we incorporate in Mirai Homes is to minimize the exploitation of natural resources and operational emissions, meaning those emissions produced once the house is fully functioning. Therefore, we rely on solar energy as the main energy source, rainwater harvesting through the green roof, and the treatment of greywater for recycling and reuse in sanitation and irrigation.
With these measures alone, we achieve up to 50% energy savings and up to 30% water savings.
Mirai Homes applies a low-impact building system based on the implementation of building techniques that accelerate the construction process, minimize waste generation, and allow the use of natural, recycled, and eco-friendly materials with a lower environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle.
This construction system is based on the prefabrication of the entire house structure in an assembly plant, where every piece, cut, and use of raw material is calibrated to the millimeter – literally. The structural material used with this technique is FSC®-certified sustainable wood. Subsequently, all the pieces defined in the plant are transported to the construction site and assembled to complete the structure and envelope of the house. This is all accomplished thanks to the collaboration with a high-reputation and international experienced bioconstruction company, Biopasiva.
Given the precision and speed with which these structures can be manufactured, the average execution time for a Mirai Homes house is 3 months, significantly faster than traditional construction. Additionally, we guarantee a minimum energy rating of A for the building envelope, ensuring not only sustainability in construction but also the energy efficiency of the house.
At Mirai Homes, all our walls feature Passivhaus standard insulation of 0.15 W/m²K, ensuring excellent thermal performance and energy efficiency.
A good insulating material must meet energy requirements, respect the environment, and pose no health hazards. That’s why, at Mirai Homes, we use two types of eco-friendly insulation: natural cellulose and recycled hemp.
Natural cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspaper and boron compounds, such as borax and boric acid, which act as fire protectants. Boron is a natural product found in the environment.
Hemp insulation is an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator, as well as an effective humidity regulator. During its production, the hemp stalks are mixed with a combination of products to produce a lightweight insulating material.
We achieved this certification thanks to the support and guidance of ÁRBOL, our partner specialized in VERDE certification consulting in Spain.
Measuring and analyzing the carbon footprint provides quantitative data, being the first step in developing a sustainability strategy that advocates for minimizing environmental impact and offsetting the carbon footprint. This is achieved through collaboration with Ecómetro, an accredited and expert company in environmental impact assessments in construction and carbon footprint offsetting.
Mirai Homes is committed to being a “zero-carbon” real estate developer, managing the compensation of the carbon footprint after it has been measured by Ecometro. This means that emissions that cannot be reduced will be offset through contributions to UN Clean Development Mechanism projects and others. These compensation programs transform negative environmental impact into strategic opportunities for improvement, both environmental and social and economic.
