“The future of all life on Earth now depends on us.”
Main Contributors to Greenhouse Gases
“The buildings and construction sector should be a primary target for GHG emissions mitigation efforts”
“Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man.”
Can a house sequester the equivalent CO2 to that released in a year by 14 cars?
Yes! If we choose construction alternatives, with other materials that have lower levels of incorporated carbon.
Can a house produce the O2 equivalent to that breathe in a year by 61 people?
Yes! In partnership with One Tree Planted, Springlar plants 1 tree per each m2 of built houses. Learn more here.
Chemical Affinities between
Carbon, Oxygen, and the Human Body
Chemical constitution of: Steel, Cement, Timber, and the Human Body
Can a house reduce the stress levels of its inhabitants?
Yes! A welcoming house, with no noise, provides a peaceful and calm environment for its occupants.
Natural wood compounds (phytoncides) reduce cortisol levels in the blood, lower blood pressure, and heart rate of those who live in spaces built in timber.
An Austrian one-year-long study assessed the impact of materials used in living rooms on the health of students. Children in timber-built classrooms had an average of 8,600 fewer heartbeats per day than those in traditional classrooms.
Amount of CO2 absorbed in panels of a) CLT and b) Expanded Cork. Amount of recycled material on c) recycled technical panels.
Can a ‘low-carb’ construction help the planet?
Yes! If we change concrete for a ‘low-carb’ construction – with timber, rammed earth, etc. – it contributes to more sustainable forests, producing more oxygen and absorbing more CO2.
How wood and cork can support the environment and economy.
Can a house be healthier for its inhabitants?
Portugal is the EU country with the highest rate of deaths during Winter: it is estimated that 40% are related to the lack of thermal comfort in houses.
Viruses, bacteria, and dust particularly undermine the respiratory system due to the lack of balance of the humidity levels.
Presently, such fact assumes vital importance, which is superior to the health problems associated with cold.
![Studies about residential habitability on Finland and Portugal [sources: Dublin University, DGS, OPENEXP, RTP] Scheme of a house’s passive heating achieved through ‘excellent’ insulation and waterproofing and heating through a radiant pavement](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e78a7b7f65ca44a55e76305/1597854332621-FYBPQF1AKQ3CF7AFNGMD/teo+5-.png)
Studies about residential habitability on Finland and Portugal [sources: Dublin University, DGS, OPENEXP, RTP]
Scheme of a house’s passive heating achieved through ‘excellent’ insulation and waterproofing and heating through a radiant pavement
Can a house collect and recycle water?
Yes! It can and it should! Water is a precious and rare good, which some even consider as the ‘oil of the 21st century’.
Several studies indicate that, if nothing is done to oppose it, entire cities can be left with no water.
SPRINGLAR promotes change: ‘greywater’ (baths, basins, etc.) is reused for sanitary discharges, and rainwater is used for irrigation and other purposes.
Average Water Consumption per Day / Scheme for Water Reuse
Can a house produce its own energy?
Yes! At SPRINGLAR, when we talk about Energy, we believe that ‘when the Sun rises, it rises for everyone!’.
We promote change towards the production and storage of energies autonomously (‘off-grid’), maximizing independence from big grids and infrastructures.
Price history of: Oil, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, and Lithium Batteries / Scheme for Digital Sharing of Electricity
