Sustainable Renovation Strategy in the Swedish Million Homes Programme: A Case Study

Hans Lind,Folke Björk,Tord Af Klintberg,Lovisa Högberg,Kerstin Annadotter

doi:10.3390/su8040388

Hans Lind, Folke Björk + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su8040388

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Apr 20, 2016
Citations: 51	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Abstract

Sweden has a large multifamily housing stock that was built between 1960 and 1975. An important current issue is how this stock can be renovated in a sustainable way. The article analyses a strategy used by a suburban municipal housing company that had clear social ambitions and offered the tenants three options of renovation: Mini, Midi and Maxi. Most tenants chose the Mini alternative which meant that they could afford to stay and that there was no increase in costs for the social authorities. An investment analysis showed that the Mini alternative had a positive net present value, but that the Midi and Maxi alternatives were more profitable. Even though there was no clear environmental focus in the renovation, energy use was reduced by 8%. As a conclusion, the study shows that a sustainable renovation is possible but that there are a number of conflicts between the different dimensions of sustainability.

Highlights

Background and PurposeMany countries have a large multifamily housing stock that was built sometime between 1945 and 1975, targeting households with lower incomes
Demolition of these old buildings has been a major strategy in some countries, but in Sweden demolitions are rare and controversies have instead focused on how to renovate
During the period 1963–1973, one million new homes were built in Sweden as part of a state-subsidised program, and a large number of apartments lacking modern amenities were demolished

Summary

Introduction

Many countries have a large multifamily housing stock that was built sometime between 1945 and 1975, targeting households with lower incomes. Demolition of these old buildings has been a major strategy in some countries (see e.g., [1,2]), but in Sweden demolitions are rare and controversies have instead focused on how to renovate. During the period 1963–1973, one million new homes were built in Sweden as part of a state-subsidised program, and a large number of apartments lacking modern amenities were demolished. Around 60% of the multifamily buildings were owned by the municipal housing companies. Of the 650,000 multi-family apartments left of the Million Homes Programme, almost 50% are owned by municipal housing companies. An industrial approach with prefabricated elements was often used when the houses were built, but the basic technical quality of the houses’ foundations and framework are often good [5]

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