Housing And Sustainability

High Life: Condo Living in the Suburban Century

by Matthew Lasner

Forthcoming from Yale University Press in 2012

Today, one in five homeowners in American cities and suburbs lives in a multifamily home rather than a single-family... more Today, one in five homeowners in American cities and suburbs lives in a multifamily home rather than a single-family dwelling. As the American dream evolves, precipitated by declining real estate prices and a renewed interest in city living, many predict that condos will become the predominant form of housing in the 21st century. In this unprecedented study Matthew Gordon Lasner explores the history of co-owned multifamily housing in the United States, from New York City's first co-op, in 1881, to contemporary condo and townhouse complexes coast to coast. Lasner explains the complicated social, economic, and political factors that have increased demand for this way of living, situating the trend within the larger housing market and broad shifts in residential architecture. He contrasts the prevalence and popularity of condos, townhouses, and other privately governed communities with their ambiguous economic, legal, and social standing, as well as their striking absence from urban and architectural history.

Enabling low carbon living in UK housing developments

by Helena Titheridge

Broer, S. and Titheridge, H. (2010) Enabling low-carbon living in new UK housing developments. Management of Environmental Quality, 21 (1). pp. 90-107. ISSN 14777835

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a tool (the Climate Challenge Tool) that allows house builders to... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a tool (the Climate Challenge Tool) that allows house builders to calculate whole life carbon equivalent emissions and costs of various carbon and energy reduction options that can be incorporated into the design of new developments. Design/methodology/approach – The tool covers technical and soft (or lifestyle) measures for reducing carbon production and energy use. Energy used within the home, energy embodied in the building materials, and emissions generated through transport, food consumption and waste treatment are taken into account. The tool has been used to assess the potential and cost-effectiveness of various carbon reduction options for a proposed new housing development in Cambridgeshire. These are compared with carbon emissions from a typical UK household. Findings – The tool demonstrated that carbon emission reductions can be achieved at much lower costs through an approach which enables sustainable lifestyles than through an approach which focuses purely on reducing heat lost through the fabric of the building and from improving the heating and lighting systems. Practical implications – The tool will enable house builders to evaluate which are the most cost-effective measures that they can incorporate into the design of new developments in order to achieve the significant energy savings and reduction in carbon emissions necessary to meet UK Government targets and to avoid dangerous climate change. Originality/value – Current approaches to assessing carbon and energy reduction options for new housing developments concentrate on energy efficiency options such as reducing heat lost through the fabric of the building and improving the heating and lighting systems, alongside renewable energy systems. The Climate Challenge Tool expands the range of options that might be considered by developers to include those affecting lifestyle choices of future residents.

Adapting UK dwellings for heat waves

by Chris Goodier

Building people into plans: Insights into decisions about heating and cooling New Zealand homes

by Brendan Doody

Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge. Agencies and... more Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge. Agencies and organisations have promoted various policies and programmes to address these matters including retrofitting insulation and the installation of energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies. Such initiatives could be enhanced through a more thorough understanding of how such technologies correspond to people’s everyday lives. We argue that the way in which people respond to these and other initiatives are mediated by their personal and familial needs and desires, as well as, broader social, political and economic factors.

Our social scientific study examined the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with residents in their homes in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Subsequently a quantitative questionnaire survey was developed and delivered to 3500 residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. This research is part of a multidisciplinary GNS Science project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The project is aimed at helping to facilitate the development and utilisation of low-temperature (
150ºC) geothermal resources in New Zealand.

Results of the study show typical New Zealand households use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms in the house. The lounge is most commonly heated, although some households (particularly those occupied by young families and elderly residents) heat bedrooms in the interest of maintaining their health and wellbeing. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. In concluding we argue that it is critical to recognise that improving the sustainability and performance of existing houses and buildings is inextricably a social process.

I linguaggi della sostenibilità. Evoluzione di una cultura progettuale consapevole.

by carola clemente

Negli ultimi anni abbiamo assistito ad un consolidamento, molto lento e graduale dell’evoluzione della cultura... more Negli ultimi anni abbiamo assistito ad un consolidamento, molto lento e graduale dell’evoluzione della cultura progettuale energicamente consapevole grazie ad alcuni drivers particolarmente stringenti ed efficaci. Questo fenomeno è stato più o meno fisiologico e spontaneo al variare dei contesti regionali e produttivi da cui si è sviluppato, ma i fenomeni che lo hanno sostenuto e incentivato sono generalmente gli stessi a livello continentale. Sicuramente hanno contribuito l’aumento del costo dell’energia prodotta da fonti non rinnovabili e il conseguente impoverimento degli utenti finali tenuti a sostenerne gli oneri, lo sviluppo di tecnologie per la migliore e maggiore integrazione dei sistemi per la produzione di energia negli elementi tecnici degli edifici, il miglioramento prestazionale in termini energetici di materiali, prodotti componenti edilizi. In questo contesto si sono affiancati negli ultimi anni numerosi provvedimenti di indirizzo sia a scala continentale che nazionale, che hanno portato allo sviluppo di un corpus normativo, articolato a livello territoriale in modo assolutamente capillare, che ha provocato una drastica revisione delle prassi progettuali e realizzative del sistema edificio/impianto nel suo complesso.

Demographics and Their Relationship to the Characteristics of New Urbanism: A Preliminary Study

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Gallini, Jared, "Demographics and Their Relationship to the Characteristics of New Urbanism: A Preliminary Study" (2010). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 340.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/340

Purpose. The purpose of this preliminary research is to explore if demographics affect participants’ attitude towards... more Purpose. The purpose of this preliminary research is to explore if demographics affect participants’ attitude towards the characteristics of New Urbanism. Methodology. To achieve this purpose, the literature will be reviewed to establish the central characteristics of New Urban communities. Based on the findings of the literature, a survey will be administered to gauge the attitudes of the author’s “friends” and their “friends” on Facebook to determine their attitudes towards the characteristics of New Urbanism and to record their demographics. Finally, those attitudes and demographics will be complied to establish if demographics affect the subjects’ attitude towards the characteristics of New Urbanism. Results. Overall, the exploratory research indicates that demographics play a trivial role in the participants’ attitude towards the characteristics of New Urbanism. Conclusion. The initial results indicate that demographics for this non-random sampling do not affect how a participant values the characteristics of a New Urban community. A scientific study should be conducted to see if these preliminary results represent the population or if different conclusions can be made.

Two Different Scales of Bioclimatic Design: 1 City-1 House (greek version)

by Sofia Tsagkera

«Ένα σπίτι ή μία πόλη είναι ένα οικοσύστημα το οποίο παρέχει ένα βασικό τοπικό βιότοπο για τους ανθρώπους,... more «Ένα σπίτι ή μία πόλη είναι ένα οικοσύστημα το οποίο παρέχει ένα βασικό τοπικό βιότοπο για τους ανθρώπους, δημιουργώντας το δικό του μικροκλίμα, ενώ θα πρέπει να τους παρέχει, όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο, άνεση και τροφή… Σε
κάθε επίπεδο, ο σχεδιαστής ή όποιος παίρνει αποφάσεις
θα πρέπει να προσπαθεί να μεγιστοποιεί το ποσοστό της
αυτονομίας του οικοσυστήματος, ενώ ταυτόχρονα, θα βελτιώνει τις ποιότητες που ενισχύουν τη ζωή».
(Barton et al, 1995)

Η παρακάτω ερευνητική εργασία εκπονήθηκε με σκοπό να
παρουσιάσει δύο εκφάνσεις της αειφορίας σε διαφορετικές
κλίμακες. Από τη μία μεριά, είναι οι αποφάσεις που πρέπει
να ληφθούν κατά το σχεδιασμό ενός αστικού κέντρου και,
από την άλλη, οι αρχιτεκτονικοί χειρισμοί που πρέπει να γίνουν κατά το σχεδιασμό μιας κατοικίας.

Intervention for homeless, substance abusing mothers: Findings from a non-randomized pilot.

by Gizem Erdem

Slesnick, N. & Erdem, G. (in press). Intervention for homeless, substance abusing mothers: Findings from a non-randomized pilot. Behavioral Medicine.

A Holistic Approach to the Evaluation of Sustainable Housing.

by Yolanda Esteban

Co-authored with Ang, S., Coulson, J., de Jong, U., and Fuller, R.

Presented at ANZAScA 2011, University of Sydney, 17-18th November, 2011.

Residential housing is often evaluated against single or at best a limited number of similar criteria. These include... more Residential housing is often evaluated against single or at best a limited number of similar criteria. These include quantifiable indicators such as energy use and its associated greenhouse gas emissions. It might also include material consumption from an embodied energy or resource use perspective. Social factors or qualitative indicators may be evaluated but are rarely placed or juxtaposed alongside these quantifiable indicators. A one-dimensional approach will be limiting because sustainable development includes both environmental and social factors. This paper describes the methodologies that have been developed to assess housing developments against five quite different criteria. These are: energy use, resource use, neighbourhood character, neighbourhood connectedness and diversity. In each case, high and low sustainability practice has been identified so that ranking is possible. These methodologies have then been tested by evaluating a typical precinct (approximately 400m by 400m) of a 1970-80s housing development in a suburb of Geelong. The rankings of the particular precinct have then been combined in a visual way to assist in the evaluation of the housing in a more holistic way. The results of this evaluation method are presented, along with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies.

Il legno nel social housing: filiere corte e prefabbricazione per un futuro sostenibile dell’abitare

by Antonio Spinelli

Articolo in atti di convegno
Spinelli A.
Polibapress (ITA)
1° congresso Rete Vitruvio (Bari) dal 2 al 5 maggio 2011
Vol.4 ISBN:9788895612799

ARTICLE: Building Towards Water Efficiency: Policy Innovation and Education in New and Existing Homes

by Sarah (S.E.) Wolfe

The pressure on water and wastewater infrastructure in Canadian municipali- ties continues to rise with the need for... more The pressure on water and wastewater infrastructure in Canadian municipali- ties continues to rise with the need for increased capacity and upgrades. Demands to extend and maintain municipal infrastructure means that capital costs threaten to swallow municipal budgets. A water efficiency strategy has helped some municipalities to maintain or reduce their residential and commercial water consumption. This demand adjustment then allows the municipality to defer some capital investment. But relying solely on municipal governments to see that water demand policies are implemented, and enforced, is unwise. Government priorities and responsibilities change, citizen interests evolve and funding programs can be cut. Yet the private sector’s contribution to promoting and sustaining residential and commercial water efficiency initiatives remains an untapped opportunity for collaboration. Conventional explanations for this neglect are that the pri- vate sector has been slow to embrace efficiency innovations because they are not eco- nomically viable and because buyers are not interested. The challenge is how to assess innovative builders and then translate the findings for policy-makers in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada. This study used qualitative methods to assess the ‘tacit knowledge’ as a critical variable for innovative realtors and builders. We also assessed the legislative environment and the builders’ organizational cultures to generate new and proactive insights for residential water efficiency. By understanding the professionals’ learning processes, their rationale for action, and the organizational cultures in which they operate, more nuanced policy recommendations at multiple levels are possible.

TRANS-DISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, Ashraf M. Salama, Open House International, Volume 36, issue 3,, September 2011, PP.7-15

by Ashraf M. Salama

Special Issue of Open House International, on Affordable Housing, Trans-disciplinarity, and Lifestyle Theories. (Guest edited by Ashraf M. Salama and Urmi Sengupta)

The aim of this paper is to present an approach for comprehending affordable housing. The approach is based on a new... more The aim of this paper is to present an approach for comprehending affordable housing. The approach is based on a new paradigm of research: trans-disciplinarity; a form of inquiry that crosses the boundaries of different disciplines. An argument on the impact of trans-disciplinary thinking on understanding affordable housing is developed, then is placed within the perspective of how lifestyle theories and their underlying concepts can be integrated into a comprehensive investigatory process. In turn, a framework of inquiry is developed while reflected on affordable housing knowledge types. An interpretation of the framework into a survey tool is conceptualized. The tool is introduced in the form of a questionnaire to be implemented in different contexts. The testing of the questionnaire as a tool of inquiry reveals its validity, corroborates the value of integrating trans-disciplinary knowledge into affordable housing research, and accentuates the value of introducing lifestyle theories as a new form of knowledge necessary for future inquiry on affordable housing.

CHANGING PARADIGMS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY, AND LIFESTYLE THEORIES , Ashraf M. Salama and Urmi Sengupta, Open House International, Volume 36, issue 3, September 2011, PP.4-6

by Ashraf M. Salama

Special Issue of Open House International, on Affordable Housing, Trans-disciplinarity, and Lifestyle Theories. (Guest edited by Ashraf M. Salama and Urmi Sengupta)

Affordable housing has long been an important planning and design concern in large urban areas and around the... more Affordable housing has long been an important planning and design concern in large urban areas and around the peripheries of major cities where population growth has led to an increasing demand for descent housing environments. The issue of affordability has attracted researchers and scholars to explore planning and design determinants, financing mechanisms, cultural and social issues, and construction and building techniques. This interest has been the case for several decades since affordable housing themes have offered a rich research area that involves many paradoxes that keep presenting challenges for planners, architects, and decision makers. Housing costs are increasing in most cities and incomes are not increasing at the same rate. Governments, on the other hand, are unable to provide sufficient housing stock to bridge the gap between demand and supply due to decreasing housing budgets and the lack of investment. Undoubtedly, the issue of housing affordability is widespread worldwide. Governments have responded to this issue through ways of cost reductions in order to make homes available at a price that a user is able to pay. However, this area of concern has been a permanent preoccupation of housing technocrats consumed in the quality and location of the housing unit, often overlooking other socio-cultural and psychological dimensions adhered to it. The academic community is no exception; it has responded to the issue of housing affordability by conducting research that places emphasis on the physical aspects of dwellings, while oversimplifying other critical demands placed on affordable housing provision by society and the environment.


The papers included in this issue can be seen as manifestations for changing paradigms in understanding affordable housing. In the old paradigm, the value of housing is assumed to be in the quantifiable attributes of dwellings, sometimes including their immediate environments. In the new paradigm, housing values lie in the relationships between the process, the product, the users, and the social and environmental contexts. In essence, affordable housing, in the old paradigm, has been conceived in terms of what it is, rather than what it does for local populations and the way in which people interact with built and natural environments. In this respect, we emphasize that by looking at socio-cultural factors, environmental issues, and the typical physical aspects as integral components of affordable housing process promising ends can be reached.

Remaking Place and Asserting Space

by Julian Chambliss

A short article exploring ongoing research investigating the Hannibal Square Community Land Trust in Winter Park,... more A short article exploring ongoing research investigating the Hannibal Square Community Land Trust in Winter Park, Florida.

The Relationship Between Housing Construction Costs and House Rents Trends in Kaduna, Nigeria

by Chukwuma Nwuba

Co-authored with D. O. Adeagbo.  Published in The Quantity Surveyor, Journal of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors Vol. 55, No 2, April – June, 2007

Abstract
The problems of escalating housing construction costs and house rents have been some of the major... more Abstract
The problems of escalating housing construction costs and house rents have been some of the major contributing factors to urban housing problems in Nigerian cities. These two variables are usually associated in urban housing problems and rental house investments. The research investigates the relationship between housing construction costs and house rents trends in the low density residential areas of Kaduna, Nigeria by analyzing the trends in the variables from 1986 to 2004. The basic objective of the research is  to determine whether there is significant relationship between housing construction costs and house rents trends and, if so, the nature of the relationship. The main hypothesis is that there is a relationship between them. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the hypothesis and regression analysis was performed on the data. the results show that there is a strong positive linear relationship  between the two trends. The results also show that both variables maintained upward trends throughout the study period and that their inflation rates were highly significant; that construction costs inflation rates were higher than those of rents but that the differences were not statistically significant. The implications of the findings include the need for improved building methods to reduce construction costs, concerted efforts by stakeholders in rental house development  and management to develop measures to solve the problem of escalating  house building costs and rents and to encourage investments in rental house development.

Analysis of Office Rents Movements in Abuja , Nigeria

by Chukwuma Nwuba

Published in the Nigerian Journal of Education Volume 7, No 1. December 2008.

Abstract
Real estate business is important to national economies. It is a very important economic activity in... more Abstract
Real estate business is important to national economies. It is a very important economic activity in Nigeria’s urban areas, where private rental tenures predominate. This research evaluates office rental movements in the Central Area of Abuja, Nigeria, with a view to measuring the rental growth rates. The basic questions to determine are whether the rental growth rates are significant, and whether significant difference exists between the rental growth rates and CPI inflation rates. The results show that office rents maintained upward trend during the study period but the growth rates were lower than general inflation rates. Rental growth rates are statistically significant, but no significant difference exists between the growth rates and inflation rates. There is a strong positive linear relationship between time and office rents movement, which could be an indication that office rents grow significantly over time. Notwithstanding, there is need to carry out further research to ascertain the impact of inflation on rental growth and how rental growth compares with inflation in building construction costs in the area.

Insights in using Home Energy Management Systems

by Sonja van Dam

Proceedings of ERSCP-ESMU Conference. Delft, The Netherlands, 25-29 October 2010.
co-authors: BAKKER, C.A., VAN HAL, J.D.M. & KEYSON, D.V.
Key words: Home energy management systems, energy monitor, smart metering, household, energy saving, conservation, feedback, usability, design, implementation.

In an ongoing process, three diverse Home energy management systems (HEMS) have been implemented in households in the... more In an ongoing process, three diverse Home energy management systems (HEMS) have been implemented in households in the Netherlands. Through a series of questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and usability tests, a wide range of knowledge in being gathered. Because of this broad approach, the insights that were gained are not only limited to the amount of savings that were achieved but also encompass participants understanding of, and control over, thier home energy consumption and the manners in which the HEMS is incorporated into their daily lives. This paper presents the first insights that were gathered through the in-depth contact with users. It aims to provoke an open discussion to further the development of the insights into guidelines for effective and useful HEMS.

Home energy monitors: impact over the medium-term

by Sonja van Dam

Published in Building Research and Information. September 2010.
Co-authors: BAKKER, C.A., VAN HAL, J.D.M.
Key words: Captology; energy demand; energy management; energy monitor; Feedback; Home Energy Management System (HEMS); housing; occupant behaviour; smart metering

Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), e.g. energy monitors, are intermediary products that can visualize, manage,... more Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), e.g. energy monitors, are intermediary products that can visualize, manage, and/or monitor the energy use of other products or whole households. HEMS increasingly receive attention for their role in energy conservation in households. A literature review and a case study examine the mid-term effectiveness (more than 4 months) of HEMS. The case study presents the results of a 15-month pilot with a domestic energy monitor in the Netherlands. It explores the extent to which participants manage to sustain their initial electricity savings over time, with a special focus on the development of habitual energy-saving behaviour. The results show that the initial savings in electricity consumption of 7.8% after 4 months could not be sustained in the medium- to long-term. A second finding is that certain groups of people seem more receptive to energy-saving interventions than others. These participants quickly develop new habits and exhibit larger savings than other participants. Obviously, a 'one-size-fits-all' approach for home energy monitors cannot be justified. For HEMS to be effective, a deeper understanding is needed that embraces social science, contextual factors, usability, and interaction design research.