Innovation

Geothermal energy is that energy in the form of heat located under the surface of the earth. Through the different capture systems, the heat exchange with the ground is carried out. Very low temperature geothermal energy is constantly regenerated by the sun, rain and the internal heat of the earth. Geothermal energy is one of the most efficient renewable energies, usable anywhere on the planet, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The geothermal heat pump takes advantage of the constant temperature of the subsoil throughout the year. For example, the one that contains the land that surrounds the houses or the groundwater, absorbing or transferring heat to the land through the different geothermal capture systems. This allows you to heat your home in winter, cool it in summer and produce domestic hot water very efficiently. The use of this energy has been carried out for more than 40 years in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, France, USA, so its use is very reliable as it is a mature technology.

The passive house or passivhaus was born as a result of the oil crisis of the 80s and the increase in fuel prices. A group of physicists and engineers came together to study how to reduce heating consumption. As a result of this work, they designed new strategies at the architectural level. In 1991 the first passive building in Germany was completed and since then the Passivhaus has been introduced little by little and its use has spread throughout the world. Hence the Passive House certification in German or Passive House in English, the standard that defines the most energy efficient buildings in architecture. The expression passive is used to define the principle of capture, storage and distribution capable of operating alone, without the contribution of external energy and that implies simple techniques, without equipment. So what is a passive house? It is an ecological and efficient building that seeks to minimize the energy demand of the building through global design planning. Specifically, it reduces energy consumption by 90% compared to a normal house. The entire building is built in order to protect ourselves from the outside environment by creating a comfortable climate without the application of conventional heating. They are houses that are designed under bioclimatic criteria - studies of the climate, the orientation, the capture of solar radiation in winter and its protection in summer. They are hermetic where the renewal of the air is carried out through a ventilation system with a heat recuperator, which renews the air, preventing the heat from escaping with it. Its secret consists in combining high interior comfort with very low energy consumption, and at a very affordable price, which allows to amortize the investment difference compared to a normal building in a very short period of time.

In 2004, a professor at the University of South Carolina first began 3D printing a concrete wall. Its technology, Contour Crafting, consisted of a 3D printer of the FDM type, mounted on a robotic arm that created layers of concrete from a 3D model and would be able to create a house in an automated way in just 20 hours. To date, several countries have developed different technologies and machinery to be able to use different materials (not just concrete) for their purpose. More and more companies are interested in this technology and use it in real works. What are the advantages of 3D printing for construction? First of all, we would save a lot of time. We would be able to complete a month's work in just 7 days. We would reduce risks, difficulties and waste, as well as costs. The amount of materials and the environmental impact would be less. Work accidents would decrease progressively. The question that worries everyone is the following: What will happen to the workers in this construction sector, if 3D printing will become commonplace? Will they lose their jobs? In the view of various specialists in this field, the trades would simply evolve and turn low-skilled workers into robot controllers or digital masonry operators. Not to mention that additive manufacturing would create many new jobs. Concrete printing is expected to reach millions in the not-so-distant future.