Swedish Housing Research Articles

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Moisture safety in ventilated cathedral roofs

Cathedral roofs are commonly used when constructing small houses in Sweden. In contrast to roof constructions with a cold attic, where frequent moisture damage has been noted, the cathedral roof is difficult to access for inspection. Furthermore, Swedish building regulations sets high demands regarding moisture safety, although there are no clear guidelines for their compliance. Hence, designing a cathedral roof must be done with great care. Previous studies investigating moisture safety in cathedral roofs, applies a constant air exchange in the ventilated air cavity. In this study a cathedral roof, ventilated from eave to eave, was analysed by examining the relevance of considering the variation in cavity air flow when conducting coupled heat and moisture calculations. The varied cavity air flow was calculated in an air flow model, considering wind and thermal buoyancy as driving forces. The accuracy of moisture safety assessments using the MRD model via hygrothermal calculations in WUFI Pro were also studied. Comparing moisture calculations with measurements showed high similarity when using a model with constant cavity air flow, and even higher resemblance when using a model with varied air flow. When actual conditions are sought, the study indicated that pinpointing important parameters, such as initial moisture content and moisture related material properties, would further increase precision in moisture calculations.

I-CUB: ‘Indoor Climate-Users-Buildings’: Relationship between measured and perceived indoor air quality in dwellings

Assessment of indoor environmental quality has recently moved to a combined methodology of both measurements and questionnaire surveys. In this study, we have used data from the national survey of the Swedish housing stock, BETSI, conducted in 2007/2008, during the heating season. The study included, among others, measurement of selected indoor air pollutants and an extensive questionnaire survey on the occupants’ perception of their dwellings. Measured concentrations of the air pollutants NO2, TVOCs and formaldehyde were aggregated into one Indoor Air Pollution Index (IAPI) on a continuous scale between 0 (excellent Indoor Air Quality; IAQ) and 10 (poor IAQ). The perceived IAQ was assessed by the occupants on a 5-point category scale from very good to very poor. On the entire scale of IAPIs, 92% of the respondents in single-family houses perceived the IAQ as very good or good and 8% as acceptable, while in the apartments, the ratings ‘very good’ and ‘good’ accounted for 58%, acceptable for 33% and 9 % for ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’, respectively. In both building types, the tendency of IAPIs was shifted to lower values (good IAQ). Analysis of IAPI-medians showed no statistically significant differences between and among the air quality perception ratings.

Taking the lead or following norms? Examining intersections of power in sustainability transitions in Swedish housing associations

ABSTRACT In this paper, we explore narratives of sustainability in housing and everyday life, positing the home as an ‘opportunity space’ for sustainability transitions. Case studies of three Swedish housing associations provide empirical insights on how sustainability is understood and practiced among residents. Addressing aspects of power and problem framing in sustainability transitions, we analyse how sustainability engagements in the associations are shaped by intersecting discourses, power relations and norms relating to age, gender, class and ethnicity. The analysis suggests that reflexivity on sustainability in the associations on one hand links to different sustainability approaches, which relate to assumptions regarding who can become engaged and the organisation of the associations’ work. On the other hand, narratives and practices of ‘doing sustainability’ are made sense of in different ways, where issues of for whom, the type of knowledge that is premiered, and the ‘upscaling’ of initiatives pose challenges for a more inclusive and transformative approach to sustainability in housing associations. Taken together, this creates different conditions for sustainability transitions in housing and everyday life, shaped both by norms of who and what is seen as sustainable, and by structures that outline the space for action for the associations and their residents.

How well do policies for energy efficiency and heritage values in the Swedish housing stock work

This paper investigates how societal goals of heritage conservation and energy efficiency are handled in the management of Swedish multi-residential buildings. Interviews were made with larger owners of multi-residential stocks, and their perspectives are compared to officials at the City Planning Offices in two Swedish municipalities: Göteborg and Gotland. The questions posed are: How is heritage prioritised in relation to increased energy efficiency, climate impact and other objectives such as cost-efficiency? How important are their internal policies in comparison with external policies imposed by society? The companies express that they are proud of the heritage of their building stock, but they have not integrated heritage values in their management plans and strategies. Social issues such as safety and well-being are included, but not heritage. A consequence of this lack of systematic consideration of heritage is that measures for increased energy efficiency may conflict with conservation needs. In order for heritage values to be taken more seriously in relation to energy efficiency they would need to be integrated into such plans. The benefit from integrating heritage values in sustainable housing management is a question that should be further studied. The paper refers to SDGs 3, 11 and 13.

Renovations as an investment strategy: circumscribing the right to housing in Sweden

There is an emergent field of writings on financialized landlords’ undertaking of apartment renovations as an investment strategy and its effect on housing inequalities. Seldom do these studies contextualize these tendencies within countries’ specific housing policy traditions. Therefore, through a qualitative case study in a neighbourhood in Sweden, this paper aims to uncover how private landlords undertake renovations as an investment strategy and its effect on tenants and, in turn, on the hybrid character of a universal housing system. It finds that renovations enable landlords to extract value from the built environment while tenants experience rising rents, a lack of information, poor property maintenance, and apprehension. Hence, I argue that renovations represent an investment strategy that serves to undermine the traditional social right to housing within a universal housing policy context. The paper thus furthers knowledge on how the situatedness of financialization tendencies entails their translation through and transformation of housing systems.

Subjective indoor air quality and thermal comfort among adults in relation to inspected and measured indoor environment factors in single-family houses in Sweden-the BETSI study

Totally 1160 adults living in single-family houses in Sweden participated in a questionnaire survey on subjective indoor air quality (SIAQ). Inspectors investigated the dwellings and performed home measurements (mean indoor temperature 21.4 °C, mean indoor air humidity 34.2%, mean indoor air exchange rate 0.36 ac/h and mean moisture load indoor 1.7 g/m3). Totally 15.5% perceived draught, 28.0% perceived too high room temperature, 42.4% unstable room temperature, 36.8% too low room temperature, 19.6% stuffy air, 19.8% dry air and 29.9% dust or dirt.Measured room temperature was related to perception of room temperature. Higher relative air humidity was related to perceived unstable room temperature (OR = 1.70) and too low room temperature (OR = 1.96). Higher absolute air humidity was related to too high room temperature (OR = 1.21), unstable room temperature (OR = 1.34) and too low room temperature (OR = 1.35). Higher measured relative humidity, absolute air humidity and moisture load were all associated with stuffy air and unpleasant odor (OR = 1.45–1.97). Higher air exchange rate was related to less perceived unstable room temperature (OR = 0.93). Higher U value was related to draught (OR = 1.17), too low room temperature (OR = 1.09), unpleasant odor (OR = 1.12) and dust and dirt (OR = 1.07). New concrete slab foundation was related to less stuffy air (OR = 0.39) (vs. basement). Damp foundation was associated with more stuffy air (OR = 1.44) and unpleasant odor (OR = 1.61). Window pane condensation was related to stuffy air (OR = 1.88). Moldy odor reported by inspector was related to stuffy air (OR = 1.73). Observed mold in the attic was associated with more stuffy air and unpleasant odor.In conclusion, complaints of room temperature can indicate poor thermal environment. Higher air exchange rate can create a more stable thermal sensation. Excess indoor humidity, lower degree of thermal insulation, presence of window pane condensation and indoor dampness/mold can impair SIAQ. Higher ventilation and concrete slab foundation with underlying thermal insulation can improve SIAQ.

Strategies of Design Concepts and Energy Systems for Nearly Zero-Energy Container Buildings (NZECBs) in Different Climates

Container-based lightweight buildings offer a high ecologic and economic potential when they are designed as nearly zero-energy container buildings (NZECBs). Thus, they are relevant to energy transition in achieving an almost climate-neutral building stock. This paper describes and applies design strategies for suitable building concepts and energy systems to be used in NZECBs for different climates. Therefore, different applications in representative climatic zones were selected. Initially, the global climate zones were characterized and analyzed with regard to their potential for self-sufficiency and renewable energies in buildings. The design strategies were further developed and demonstrated for three cases: a single-family house in Sweden, a multi-family house in Germany, and a small school building in rural Ethiopia. For each case, design guidelines were derived and building concepts were developed. On the basis of these input data, various energy concepts were developed in which solar and wind energy, as well as biomass, were integrated as renewable energy sources. All the concepts were simulated and analyzed with the Polysun® software. The various approaches were compared and evaluated, particularly with regard to energy self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency rates up to 80% were achieved. Finally, the influence of different climate zones on the energy efficiency of the single-family house was studied as well as the influence of the size of battery storage and insulation.

Manufacturing decline and house price volatility

Using a new dataset of all Swedish housing transactions over the 2009-2017 period, we find that manufacturing's share of employment is positively associated with house price growth volatility and negatively associated with risk-adjusted capital gains. Both effects appear to be related to manufacturing's impact on firm concentration and employment volatility. Moreover, they imply that the manufacturing decline since 1970 could account for a 35% reduction in house price volatility.

Endemic and Diverse: Planning Perspectives on Second-home Tourism’s Heterogeneous Impact on Swedish Housing Markets

ABSTRACT Second-home tourism’s transformative power on local communities is widely recognized through numerous studies on its social, environmental and economic effects in many parts of the world. A significant share of this literature examines how second-home tourism impacts local housing markets and access to housing. However, few studies have looked into how planning authorities navigate these impacts of second-home tourism and how they differ spatially. Based on previous studies on the heterogeneity of second-home tourism and a comprehensive interview material from 20 Swedish municipalities, this paper examines impacts on local housing markets and the management efforts by local planning authorities. The results show how second-home tourism impact housing markets very differently depending on context when it comes to growth, housing demand and effects for locals’ access to housing. The study argues for an acknowledgement of this heterogeneous geography and more context-aware second-home research that moves beyond the rural-urban dichotomy.

The new housing precariat: experiences of precarious housing in Malmö, Sweden

Precarious housing research has become increasingly relevant to previous welfare housing contexts, such as Sweden. In the 1990s, Swedish housing became gradually market-oriented, which induced a shortage of affordable rental housing and increased housing costs in all major cities. This article presents the results from interviews with individuals about their experiences of the unequal housing market in the city of Malmö, Sweden. The article furthers knowledge of the lived experience of housing precariousness in the Global North. The narratives from the housing precariat are analysed through the lens of housing inequalities, and the analysis theoretically adds to ‘research on critical geography of precarity. The article aims to illustrate the consequences of the shift from a general welfare approach of housing to an individualized and neoliberal housing market. In particular, this article adds insights on the gendered and racialized aspects that affect housing precariousness.

Life Cycle Cost Analysis of a Single-Family House in Sweden

The objective of this paper was to explore long-term costs for a single-family house in Sweden during its entire lifetime. In order to estimate the total costs, considering construction, replacement, operation, and end-of-life costs over the long term, the life cycle cost (LCC) method was applied. Different cost solutions were analysed including various economic parameters in a sensitivity analysis. Economic parameters used in the analysis include various nominal discount rates (7%, 5%, and 3%), an inflation rate of 2%, and energy escalation rates (2–6%). The study includes two lifespans (100 and 50 years). The discounting scheme was used in the calculations. Additionally, carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions were considered and systematically analysed with costs. Findings show that when the discount rate is decreased from 7% to 3%, the total costs are increased significantly, by 44% for a 100-year lifespan, while for a 50 years lifespan the total costs show a minor increase by 18%. The construction costs represent a major part of total LCC, with labor costs making up half of them. Considering costs and emissions together, a full correlation was not found, while a partial relationship was investigated. Results can be useful for decision-makers in the building sector.

The Sliding Scale between Usufruct and Ownership: The Example of Swedish Multi-Family Housing

This paper aims to elucidate the sliding scale between usufruct and ownership by applying a property rights framework to three Swedish forms of tenure in multifamily housing. The framework deconstructs the bundles of rights of rental, tenant-ownership and ownership to highlight commonalities and differences connected to the right to use and exclude, the right to transfer and the right to the value. It is concluded that the three tenure forms have many traits in common but that there are distinct differences in some areas, most notably in connection to the right to the value. The property rights framework applied in the study may be applicable also on a general level as a method to analyze and compare tenures of different types in different countries. Further, ways to improve the framework and cover more facets of outcomes of property rights patterns are suggested.

Dwelling on-the-move together in Sweden: sharing exclusive housing in times of marketization

ABSTRACT For almost a century, Swedes living in shared housing have resided in ‘kollektivhus’, a form of co-housing that support sharing reproductive work. However, during the past decade, new forms of exclusive shared housing have emerged on the Swedish housing market. In contrast to international trends of vulnerable singles being forced to share housing, this Swedish example shows that also financially privileged singles reside in shared housing. Based on a survey of housing companies and a case study the article argues that mobility has been a driver for this new form of shared housing. In the article, ‘dwelling on-the-move together’ is identified as a new practice of residing in exclusive shared housing. This practice is characterised by sharing private, exclusive facilities, sharing paid services and sharing spaces for both home and work, in an environment that certifies that residents can come and go as they please while hired staff takes care of their property. While exclusive shared housing is an asset for residents, it also privatise facilities and reintroduces domestic workers to middle-class housing. In all, the marketization of shared housing risks introducing a stratification of shared housing which may reinforce the geographic and social polarisation of Swedish cities.

Anchoring in surveys of household expectations

We assess whether the concept of anchoring – where a respondent’s answer is affected by the reference number stated in the survey question – is related to the characteristics of the respondent. Using a survey of household expectations of Swedish housing prices, we find significant differences in observed anchoring across groups reflecting age, income, homeownership and sex. Implications for the interpretation of survey results are discussed.

A Comparison between Architects' and Residents' Perceived Living Quality in Wooden Multifamily Houses in Sweden

Abstract There is currently great interest in the production of wooden multifamily houses in Sweden, due to increased environmental concern combined with a demand for modern building solutions. The focus in industry and academia alike has been dominated by new innovative building solutions along with increased industrialization of the building process, aiming to improve the overall building quality and the profitability for the involved actors. However, little attention has been paid to what the residents perceive as living quality. Understanding residents' perceived living quality—compared with architects' perceptions—allows the possibility of adjusting the modern building solution of wooden multifamily houses in order to meet residents' actual expectations and, in the long term, to increase the wood-building industries' market share. The purpose of this article is to compare how residents and architects perceive living quality and whether these stakeholders' perceptions differ regarding building type and material choice (i.e., multifamily wooden or concrete buildings). A survey was sent out to 485 respondents in Sweden to gain insight into living quality perceptions. The results revealed discrepancies in what is perceived to be important in new housing development, although neither group was willing to pay more to live in a wooden building compared with a concrete building.

The implementation of energy saving policies and their influence on energy use and cultural values in the housing stock of Sweden

Introduction: The overall objective is to understand how policies may be used to increase the potential for saving energy while simultaneously preserving cultural values in the housing stock. The project contributes to SDGs 11, 17, 5, 8 and 10. Methods: The paper summarises and discusses findings in previous research and projects led by the authors. Finally the design of a new project launched in 2020 is presented. The purpose of Energy efficiency and cultural values. How well do the policies function on the local level? is to give valuable knowledge on how the building process, advice on energy use and renovation strategies work together in Swedish municipalities. Results: Since the 1970s there has been a conflict between the preservation of architectural heritage and decreasing energy use in the Swedish housing stock. The first policy programme focussing energy saving was launched after the first global energy crisis in 1973. Since then there have been different policies addressing the issue of energy use in housing. The knowledge of how to carefully renovate existing buildings has increased, but the incentives for cutting energy use further has diminished among property managers. As a consequence, there is very little renovation aiming at energy efficiency, which challenges the national goals of lessening the impact on climate change. One problem may be an incoherent and inefficient implementation of policies dealing with the preservation and the energy use of the built environment. Conclusions: The antagonism between energy efficiency and cultural heritage that emerged in the 1970s has changed in character. Above all, increased energy efficiency seems not to be a very strong force when designing renovation projects in homes. If Agenda 2030 goals of accomplishing a well-built environment that does not require unsustainable practices to be sustained are to be reached, new policies will be required. Grant support: The research has been supported by the Swedish Energy Agency (grant #50041-1).

A matter of metrics? How analysing per capita energy use changes the face of energy efficient housing in Sweden and reveals injustices in the energy transition

Improving energy performance of the housing stock continues to be an important undertaking in the energy transition of many EU member states. However, tendencies of low-income households generally living in buildings with low energy performance pose a challenge for this transition, and cases of ‘renoviction’ and ‘green gentrification’ are becoming more and more noticed in the scientific community. More so, questions regarding the distributive justice of costs and burdens in the energy transition of the housing stock have been raised. In this paper, we approach this problem from a perspective of energy performance metrics. Although energy performance (kWh/m2, year) is generally lower in buildings inhabited by low-income households, residential density—and thus building utilisation—tends to be higher. By measuring per capita energy use instead of area-normalised energy use, we investigate if a high residential density can offset a low energy performance and change the perception of which buildings are considered energy inefficient and which are not. Results showed that by measuring per capita energy use instead of area-normalised energy use, energy inefficient buildings were found in high-income city centres instead of in low-income suburbs of Swedish cities. Moreover, there has been an unjust distribution of the imposition of the energy transition over the past decade where the residents with the initially lowest per capita energy use have carried a disproportionately high share of the energy savings. This suggests that a change of energy performance metrics could offer an approach for a more socially just and sustainable energy transition of the housing stock.

Assistant Nurses' Positioned Accounts for Prioritizations in Residential Care for Older People.

Swedish eldercare is strained by an increased administrative workload, which draws time away from individual care of and interaction with older people. This study explores how eldercare staff, working closely with residents in Swedish special housing (nursing homes), make accounts for how they prioritize work tasks. Openly structured, thematic interviews were conducted with 12 permanently employed, female assistant nurses, including a group interview with 3 of them. Positioned accounts (small stories) concerning prioritizations due to insufficient resources were analyzed, using Bamberg's three-level positioning analysis. The analysis shows that the staff take a favorable position toward the older people by distinguishing between care and "the other things." They also justify prioritizations at odds with their care values. The assistant nurses present themselves as doing the best they can in organizationally restricted situations. Organizational demands limit the space for care, giving rise to an idealization of "icing on the cake." Morale is complex in residential care. A narration of "the torn carer" was found as a co-constructed storyline explaining why the staff did not perform eldercare consistent their care values. When ideals and practice differ, interaction in the peer group becomes important in order to maintain a positive professional identity. "The torn carer" is a way for the staff to escape blame for not living up to care values, but it also victimizes them. Staff could be empowered by a working environment characterized by a reflective practice.

Understanding tenants’ responses to energy efficiency renovations in public housing in Sweden: From the resigned to the demanding

This study focuses on the experiences of tenants in renovation projects of public housing rental apartments in Sweden. Tenants’ perspectives are under-researched in the context of energy efficiency renovation projects, which is a considerable oversight given the many ways in which such projects impact their lives. The aim of the paper is to reveal rare qualitative insights into tenants’ experiences of, and attitudes towards, energy efficiency renovations in a public housing context and the extent to which they feel motivated and able to influence the renovation project. Participatory observations at tenant meetings were conducted as well as semi-structured phone interviews. An empirically driven typology is developed indicating that tenants have different interests and attitudes regarding energy efficiency renovations. Six different types are identified: the satisfied; the demanding, the conservative, the resigned, the sceptical and the resistant.