In this era of increasing concern for the health of the planet, it is more important than ever to find ways to minimize the long-term impact of buildings on the environment and to investigate new methods of sustainable construction.
A new type of building technology presents itself as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional construction methods. This technology produces structures that are very effective in terms of quantity of materials used in their construction does not require a permanent foundation can be moved easily and can recycling.
It is important at this stage to make a distinction between buildings and inflatables. A traditional building air-supported is that which is composed of a single layer membrane attached to the earth around its perimeter. The air is blown under the membrane to lift from the ground and form the shape of the building.
An inflatable building, on the other hand, uses two layers of membrane interconnected spars typically using the same material. The cavity formed between the layers is pressurized with air, producing a structural element that allows structures to achieve far-reaching.
So what makes it so environmentally friendly? Well, first of all, the majority of a finished inflatables is made from fresh air. Analysis of the completed structure shows that the amount of fabric used only 0.5% of the volume of the structure. For example, one square meter of a wall 500 mm thick inflatable volume of 0.5 cubic meters, but the amount of fabric used in its construction is only 0.0025 cubic meters. A tire building must surely be the most efficient of all types of buildings based on the quantity of raw materials used in relation to the volume of the finished structure.
Because textiles are supplied in roll form, the necessary equipment for an entire building can be transported in a van one medium-sized businesses to minimize the effects of transportation of raw materials on the environment.
Another environmental benefit of inflatable structures is that they require no permanent foundation. Conventional buildings generally require concrete foundations that are permanent and can not be moved. An inflatable building should normally be anchored by Helical anchors are literally screwed into the ground. If a building must be moved, the anchors are unscrewed and used again. The flooring used in buildings is modular and can be placed on the soil surface. It can also be reused if the building is moved.
Another important consideration when assessing the environmental impact of a building is the energy used throughout its life.