Abstract
Housing is one of the most important public priorities affecting urban development and therefore has a significant impact on sustainable development. A housing project can be regarded as sustainable only when all the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) are dealt with. The aim of the present article is to propose an integrated, hierarchy-based, multiple-criteria approach for the sustainability assessment of new residential development projects, which is achieved through the accomplishment of three objectives. First, this paper proposes an original framework for a multiple-criteria assessment of new residential projects. Second, the proposed methodology is demonstrated in the assessment of nine residential development projects in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia according to a hierarchical system of 53 sustainability indicators developed specifically for the Baltic context. Finally, based on the research results, the paper proposes recommendations to stakeholders for enhancing the performance of new residential projects according to the principles of sustainability. The proposed sustainability assessment approach is not limited to the Baltic States and can also be used in other countries, applying the adapted sustainability assessment indicators.
Highlights
Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1]
The development of the methodology for sustainability assessment of new residential projects is based on three assumptions: 1. The sustainability assessment should encompass an integrated evaluation of environmental, social, and economic indicators; 2
The analysis has revealed that new residential projects in Estonia have been ranked higher compared to projects implemented in Lithuania and Latvia
Summary
Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1]. “Sustainability” and “sustainable development” in the literature and in practice are generally defined using an aggregate of characteristics, including economic security and growth, environmental quality and integrity, social cohesion and quality of life, and empowerment and governance [2]. From an environmental perspective, residential construction is one of the largest end users of environmental resources and one of the largest polluters of man-made and natural environments [5]. Common considerations regarding sustainable residential buildings include the use of environmentally friendly materials and water conservation, reduction of energy consumption, ensuring healthy and comfortable indoor and outdoor environments, reduction of pollution, cohesion of community, ensuring housing affordability, etc. Building sustainability involves various relations among built, natural, and social systems and comprises a complex of different priorities that require consideration
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