Why using natural building materials can be healthier, more economical, and better for the planet too, Niall Crosson, Ecological Building Systems

We continue our series of interviews with people at the cutting edge of ecological building. 

Interesting and insightful conversation with Niall about why using natural building materials can be healthier, more economical and better for the planet too.

Using natural building materials can be healthier

More about Niall Crosson

Niall is Group Technical Manager with Ecological Building Systems. He holds a degree as a Bachelor of Technology and a Masters Eng. Sc. He is also a Certified Passivhaus Consultant and board member of Irish Green Building Council. Niall has provided guidance on several national standard committees and provides input to several working groups with the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings.

His expertise is in the area of building physics, energy conservation, hygrothermal analysis, airtightness, natural insulation, and vapour diffusion in open constructions.

Over 18 years Niall has received advanced training from airtightness specialists pro clima and natural insulation manufacturers such as DIASEN (www.diasen.com) cork lime thermal plasters, GUTEX woodfibre insulation manufacturers (www.GUTEX.de) as well as several other companies.

Niall has provided guidance to many award-winning new build and retrofit projects in Ireland and the UK. He has also co-authored and authored chapters for a number of low energy building publications including The Passivhaus Handbook and The Passivhaus Designers Manual. His own Passivhaus features in the latest issue of Understanding Passivhaus by Emma Walshaw.

Here are some links referred to in the podcast:

https://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/

https://asbp.org.uk/

https://stbauk.org/

https://www.igbc.ie/

https://passivehouseplus.ie/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvOIzK4T8KvD0FpNOHDnxZxB3x3ouOtya4B34cFyPOLebplJokvKoywaAl6iEALw_wcB

https://ukcmb.org/

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/

https://www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland

Here is a link to some reports I mentioned:

World Green Building Council – Embodied carbon call for action report

https://www.worldgbc.org/embodied-carbon

How building with wood and natural materials impacts human health

Authored by Graham Lowe, Ph.D., the report summarizes the latest scientific research and converging trends on biophilic design.

https://www.naturallywood.com/blog/can-building-with-wood-and-natural-materials-improve-our-health/?utm_source=naturally

In regard to my own house and the GUTEX Woodfibre natural insulation materials used to insulate are among the case studies in the following publication, now available on our website here

https://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/product/understanding-passivhaus-second-edition-emma-walshaw

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