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Saturday closed
Sunday closed
Sustainability
At Living by CO we build homes, communities and systems that are designed to last, for people and for the planet. Prefab timber structures, smart use of water, carbon storing materials, healthy indoor climates and regenerative landscapes are not extras, they are the baseline.
We develop, design and build in Portugal with a simple rule, every project must move things forward compared to standard construction, not sideways.
That means,
- Using bio based materials wherever technically and economically possible
- Prefabrication that reduces waste and transport movements
- Energy efficient design as the starting point, not as an afterthought
- Water systems that respect a dry and fire sensitive climate
- Communities and organisations that can stay healthy over decades
We do not claim to be perfect, we do aim to be transparent and to improve with every project.
Materials that store carbon
We work with timber, wood fibre, cork and other bio based materials because they store carbon instead of just emitting it.
In practice this means,
- Timber structure and panels. Closed timber frame panels form the structural backbone of our homes. The wood used in these elements stores carbon for the lifetime of the building.
- Wood fibre and cork insulation. We use high performance insulation made from wood fibre and cork where possible. These materials offer strong thermal and acoustic performance and a lower environmental footprint than many mineral or petrochemical options.
- Breathable, mineral and lime based finishes. Lime based renders and paints, together with breathable build ups, help manage moisture in a healthy way and support durable envelopes.
- Material choices with data. Wherever available we look at Environmental Product Declarations and lifecycle data, so we can compare options on more than just price.
The goal, over time, is that a typical Living by CO home stores more carbon in its materials than it emits in its construction phase.
Grey water filtration and water wise design
Portugal faces hotter summers, longer dry periods and increasing fire risk. Treating water as a one time consumable is not an option.
In our projects we work with,
Grey water collection
- Water from showers, sinks and washing machines is collected separately from black water.
Filtration and buffering
- Grey water is filtered and routed to storage buffers, from where it can be used for irrigation in gardens and communal landscapes
Water efficient fixtures
- We specify taps, shower heads and appliances with realistic but efficient flow rates, so daily use is comfortable but not wasteful.
Landscape and fire strategy
- Water buffers, planting plans and access for fire services are considered early in the design, not added at the last moment.
The exact setup can differ per project, but the principle stays the same, use every liter of water as intelligently as possible.
