Sustainable Housing Research Articles

Comparison of mass housing schemes delivery strategies condition in Ilorin, Nigeria toward a sustainable mass housing delivery

In developing nations such as Nigeria, the housing industry lacks appropriate and highquality housing. One of the housing development concepts and shelter delivery systems in practice in developing nations Nigeria inclusive are public, private and public–private. These three delivery strategies involves in mass housing production, although the bulk of these mass housing are not sustainable. This study examines at the conditions of mass housing delivered by the public, public–private, and private sectors in Ilorin, Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed for the study and both primary and secondary data were utilised. Multistage sampling technique was adopted to sample 27% of the 4166 households’ population. A set of questionnaire was administered to 1125 household heads, from 895 houses of the Public, 203 of public–private–partnership and 27 of private developers. Data were evaluated with descriptive statistics and multiple analyses of variance (MANOVA) to get the variation in housing elements condition based on the three-delivery strategy. According to the study, private had walls with highest percentage of very good (41.0%), good conditions (51.6%), and public had walls with 33.1% very good, 36.6% good conditions. However, 13.0% of PPP wall are in poor condition, and 80.1% of walls are only fair, comparisons of the condition of housing elements in the three strategies revealed that all the parameters of houses were found to have significant differences with p values reported for the comparison were observed to be less than 0.05 confidence level (p < 0.05). The study suggests among others that public–private partnership delivery strategy should be given more attention by the government to ensure good quality delivery and sustainability of mass housing.

Addressing the need for both affordable and sustainable housing: a policy analysis on avoiding environmental gentrification

This article focuses on the threat of environmental gentrification in Binghamton and the surrounding municipalities. Given certain risks, including an increasing temporary student renter population, increasing rent prices, high population of renters overall and the need for updates to the housing stock, this area of Broome County is at high risk for environmental gentrification if clean energy upgrades to the housing stock are aggressively pursued. Since clean energy upgrades such as weatherization and clean technology installation will create safer housing and reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions, it is desirable to pursue them. Thus, this article will analyze four policy alternatives on their ability to facilitate the implementation of clean energy upgrades while also mitigating green gentrification. It will find that synthesizing the work of local land trusts and housing organizations with efforts to implement clean energy upgrades will best accomplish this.

The meaning and change in the function of communal space in Lamin house

In the modern era, many traditional houses have changed to functional spaces, as stated in several journals, including the Lamin house in East Kalimantan. The changes in spaces of traditional houses are caused by factors such as modernization, the economy, society, and others. Lamin houses, which have communal spaces with activities, have also shown indications of changes in functions. Therefore, the research purpose is to identify the changes in functions and their contributing factors, as well as to explore the meanings behind these functions. This research utilized a qualitative descriptive method with a phenomenological approach. Data collection techniques involved in-depth interviews and observations. The research findings indicate a shift in the functions of Lamin houses, which has an impact on the meaning of space and the addition of functions, accompanied by the meaning of behavior that maintains cultural aspects and encourages the economic sector. The factor causing the change is that the communal space has increased its tourism function. It is hoped that the results of this research will become the basis for maintaining the sustainability of the Lamin house as local architectural wisdom.

Building Sustainable Social Housing System: A Singapore Case from New Institutionalism Economics Approach

Policymakers worldwide currently face challenges in planning, regulating, and managing the housing market. One of the primary solutions is the provision of affordable social housing fostering economic development, culture integration, technology empowerment, and social stability. Singapore is recognized as a successful model of well-balanced centralized legislation and market-augmented governance. However, current studies have mainly focused on urban planning and real estate finance fields. A holistic approach should be conducted to understand the effectiveness of the whole framework and policy conduit including affordability, inclusiveness, and connectivity. This study emphasizes the importance of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) governance and analyzes what policies make social housing schemes robust and sustainable by combining the Singapore case with the New Institutionalism Economics (NIE) approach. HDB decreases transaction costs by centralized planning and establishes a transparent system to increase housing affordability and ownership. Inclusiveness is achieved by inter-departmental joint force so that social capital can be maximized for diverse community cohesion. Socio-technical change and institutional evolution have mutual effects on each other for efficiency and connectivity. Digital innovations make sustainable communities and smart cities. As a result, this study proposes a practical framework for learning from Singapore's implications for national governance, institutional development, and policy formulation that holds universal reference value.

Sustainable low-income housing: Exploring housing and governance issues in the Gauteng City Region, South Africa

Amidst the global discourse on the provision of low-income housing, there has been a growth in studies to assess the governance issues related to the sustainability of housing delivery. Despite housing policy and legislative frameworks existing in developing countries, several governance issues have limited the sustainability of housing delivery mechanisms. Therefore, this study aims to unpack housing delivery approaches through the lens of governance. Adopting an exploratory approach, this study seeks to understand strategic and operational approaches used by government institutions to promote collaborative strategies in the planning and delivery of housing projects. Empirical data is used to understand mechanisms, processes and systems involved in the planning and delivery of low-income housing projects, using the Gauteng City Region as an area of study. The findings reveal there is that there is a limited understanding of the concept of governance within public sector institutions. Additionally, the institutional arrangements of the three spheres of government (national, provincial and local) have an impact in the delivery processes of low-income housing projects. A shift is important in the understanding and application of governance principles in housing policy and programme implementation to realise the value of governance. This study concludes with implications for policy and academics highlighting the role of stakeholder participation, transparency, and accountability.

“We Need to Build Carbon-Neutral Houses” – Discourses of Responsible Expertise in Finnish Professional Media

ABSTRACT In this study, we explore how expertise and responsibility are discursively intertwined in professional media. Based on quotations from building and real-estate industry professionals in news texts concerning sustainable building and housing, we identified three responsibility-related discourses: responsibility as a strategic professional vision, responsibility as techno-material expertise, and responsibility as a communal and societal orientation. These discourses of responsible expertise are important for voicing professional perspectives and emphasizing corporate social responsibility (CSR). In the sustainability transition, industry professionals are balancing between organizational and industry-level motives, between utility perspectives for “us” and “others,” and between managing impressions of doing good for the industry and for citizens or society at large. Through and with journalism, these professionals disseminate both individual and organizational expertise to the public in order to “make the industry and the whole society better and more sustainable.”

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA: DOES FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OVERCOME THE RISKS AND CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE HOUSING?

Housing industry is one of the major threats to global environment and resource depletion. Particularly in China, it is regarded as a major challenge due to massive population growth. The most common barriers involve; economic barriers and environmental barriers. Therefore, to promote sustainable housing development, the management of these barriers is most crucial. This study is an attempt to overcome these barriers with the help of financial institutions in the context of China. The sample of the study are construction sector employees which are selected through simple random sampling method. Partial Least Square (PLS) is employed as statistical tool to analyze the primary data. Results revealed the positive role of financial institutions to overcome the challenges related to the economic barriers and environmental barriers. Financing from banks for the sustainable housing schemes can reduce the economic barriers and help to fulfil the sustainable housing criteria. Similarly, the environment requirements can also be achieved through environmental policy developed by the banks in China. This study recommended the Chinese government to promote sustainable hosing development through the promotion of bank financing and implementation of banks environmental policies.

Revolutionizing affordable housing in Africa: A comprehensive technical and sustainability study of 3D-printing technology

The global challenge of providing affordable and sustainable housing, particularly in Africa's intensified housing crisis, has spurred interest in transformative solutions such as 3D-printing technology. This research addresses a significant gap in understanding the technical and sustainability characteristics of 3D-printed housing, by comprehensively assessing a full-size 3D-printed house. Beyond examining building performance, a thorough life cycle assessment quantifies the whole life cycle carbon and cost, comparing the 3D-printed house with its conventional counterpart. The findings underscore the superior performance of 3D-printed housing in both technical and sustainability aspects. A 48 % reduction in the carbon footprint emphasizes the environmental sustainability of 3D-printed house. Despite a 70 % reduction in construction duration, the initial costs of technology and imported proprietary materials contribute to a higher life cycle cost for the 3D-printed house (381 %) in Africa.These results affirm the potential of 3D-printing as a sustainable and efficient mechanism for revolutionizing the African housing sector by improving performance and expediting delivery. The study provides valuable insights for housing stakeholders, advocating for the judicious use of 3D-printing and local bio-mediated geo-materials to address African housing crises, enhance residents' quality of life, and, consequently, sustain African cities and society.

Integrating Technology and Heritage Design for Climate Resilient Courtyard House in Arid Region

This research has investigated the sustainability and climate resilience of courtyard houses of adobe architecture in the UAE. It analyzed design effectiveness in terms of power consumption, CO2 emissions, thermal comfort, and daylight use, employing simulations to assess building structures and construction systems. Adopting a three-phase mixed-methods approach, the study began with a literature review on courtyard house design, construction, and environmental performance, emphasizing sustainable design and passive ventilation. The second phase involved a case study of a UAE courtyard house (Al Midfa), including site visits, interviews, and energy consumption and CO2 emission data collection. The final phase used building energy simulation software to model energy performance and evaluate passive ventilation's role in reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, with simulation results validated against real-world data. Advanced Sefaira simulations with the Energy Plus Engine identified one out of seven modified models (M5) as exceptionally thermally efficient, influencing the architectural design of the Al Midfa house. To transform the Al Midfa house into a sustainable climate-resistant structure, the research suggested retrofitting with new glazing and insulation on the inside of external walls and on the roof surface at a combined U-value of 0.4 W/m2to enhance energy efficiency without altering the exterior. A notable innovation was the use of injected cellulose insulation in wall systems, combining efficient insulation with architectural aesthetics, signifying a shift towards energy-efficient interior modifications. The study's findings contribute to the evolution of traditional house designs toward climate change resilience and a sustainable future. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-03-018 Full Text: PDF

Sustainable social housing regeneration in Ireland: A case study

Declining housing and environmental conditions and socioeconomic marginalisation have been common experiences of older social housing estates. These factors can lead to poor-quality living conditions for residents, estate management challenges for social landlords and poor life chances and reputational stigma for communities. One of the interventions proposed by central governments, local authorities and social housing landlords to address the problems experienced by such estates is estate regeneration. This paper presents a case study of a large social housing estate in the south of Ireland where a long-term estate regeneration masterplan has been implemented since 2013. The paper draws on the findings of multi-annual reviews of the implementation process based on quantitative and qualitative evaluations with multiple stakeholders including residents. The paper also comments on the effectiveness of regeneration strategies to address the impacts of austerity, market failure and structural factors.

Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Compressed Earth Blocks with Stabilising Additives for Self-Build of Sustainable Housing

Earth building technologies are increasingly being used to promote a natural and sustainable construction model and to empower self-building in resource-limited areas. This work focuses on investigating the use of different types of stabilising additives in compressed earth blocks (CEBs). To this end, empirical studies and laboratory analyses of earth samples taken from different sites in Ecuador were combined. Once the most suitable earth for use as a building material was determined, four types of CEBs were produced using equipment designed ad hoc to encourage self-building: earth-based, fibre additives, cementitious additives, and additives of other origin. The panels were characterised by means of compression tests to analyse their mechanical behaviour, obtaining the most promising results for the additivated samples with the highest percentage of cement and for the sample containing ground reeds, with a compressive strength of 3.3 MPa and 0.7 MPa, respectively. These samples were then subjected to more extensive tests using digital image correlation to analyse their full field strains and cracks, where the samples stabilised with cement showed a more homogeneous and consistent behaviour. Finally, an economic and comparative study with conventional construction systems was carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of using the proposed earth materials for cleaner and more economical buildings, mainly due to cost savings and lower pollution in terms of transport when using local resources.

Sustainable Housing Design Potentials in Palestine: A Focus on the Spontaneous Urban Design Form

Sustainable Housing Design Potentials in Palestine: A Focus on the Spontaneous Urban Design Form

Resilient and regenerative sustainable urban housing solutions for Nigeria

This paper looks into the analysis and presentation of case studies and best practices of successful resilient and regenerative housing projects in developed nations. The primary objective is to identify key factors behind their success and explore their potential for scalability and replicability across diverse urban contexts in Nigeria. The study examines various case studies, focusing on understanding the design, implementation, and outcomes of these sustainable housing projects. Through a comprehensive analysis of the selected case studies, the paper identifies the crucial success factors and lessons learned, emphasizing their contributions to sustainability, climate responsiveness, and community well-being. Moreover, it assesses the applicability of these practices in the Nigerian context, considering the country's unique climate zones and urban challenges. The study also explores potential barriers and opportunities for scaling up and replicating these housing solutions in different urban settings within Nigeria. It proposes tailored strategies for adapting and implementing resilient and regenerative housing practices, with a particular emphasis on integrating climate-responsive design, net-zero energy goals, and community engagement. To further enhance the sustainability of Nigerian housing developments, the paper advocates for the incorporation of green infrastructure, circular economy principles, and innovative water management solutions. Additionally, it highlights the importance of data-driven approaches and smart technologies in architecture and urban planning to support evidence-based decision-making and optimize the design and implementation of sustainable housing projects. Through this comprehensive analysis, the paper provides tailored strategies and recommendations for policy-makers, architects, urban planners, and stakeholders involved in sustainable housing development in Nigeria. By leveraging the valuable insights derived from successful practices in developed nations, Nigeria can pave the way for resilient and regenerative housing projects, contributing to a sustainable, prosperous future for its diverse and rapidly growing urban population.

Land-use policy instruments for sustainable housing: insights from municipality planners in Finland

ABSTRACT Local land-use governance is critical for enhancing sustainable housing, which is a topical issue in implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, information is lacking on how the use of land-use policy instruments and fulfilment of goals connect with each other. To fill this void, this study addresses local operationalization of sustainable housing aims, and their effects on the use of local land-use policy instruments in Finnish municipalities with legislative power to promote local sustainability through their own actions. The material of the study is based on online survey data collected in 2021 from land-use planners working in Finnish municipalities. According to our results based on quantitative analysis implemented with multi-variate methods, themes to promote sustainable housing in the Finnish municipalities are the Citizen focus enhanced by formal, and the Construction focus enhanced by informal approaches. Thus, despite the similar regulatory possibilities for their simultaneous promotion, local land-use governance instruments seem to be used in Finland to enhance either social or environmental sustainability. The phenomenon may exist also in other countries calling for more information on simultaneous promotion of different sustainability aspects in housing, e.g. by uptake of mixes of informal and formal land-use planning instruments in local decision-making.

Sustainability of shared economy in the agri-food, tourism, and hospitality industries

IntroductionThis study aims to provide a systematic literature review on the sustainability of shared economy in the food, agricultural, and hospitality sectors. We assess relationships between the sharing economy and sustainability in the examined industries. Furthermore, we identify gaps in knowledge and recommend possible research directions for future studies.MethodsThis study provides a systematic literature review on sustainable sharing economy in the hospitality and agri-food sectors. We applied the Procedure for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Based on the mentioned methodological procedure, we conducted a literature search through scientific databases Scopus and Web of Science. The research period is 2014–2023.ResultsUsing the Procedure for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), we extracted 2185 scientific articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases published between 2014 and 2023. A total of 117 studies met the eligibility criteria. Based on the review, we identified the following frequently researched areas in the literature: sustainable housing sharing, urban and community sustainability, energy efficiency and carbon footprint, public sector regulation and sustainability, food sharing, exchanges and networks, food waste-reducing platforms, and food-based applications.ConclusionThe studies reviewed confirmed growing research interest in the sustainability of the shared economy in agri-food and hospitality. The number of studies in the Web of Science and Scopus databases has increased over the last decade. Our systematic review indicates that shared accommodation and food sharing are dominant topics in the literature. The sustainability of shared accommodation has been examined in previous studies, mainly concerning the impacts on cities and communities. In food sharing, we identified relevant linkages between food waste and sharing platforms.

Improving shelter conditions by implementing sustainable housing policies

With increasing global awareness of the application of sustainability and its importance in preserving resources and the ability of future generations to access them, implementing sustainability has become a necessary issue. The housing sector is considered one of the largest energy consumers. Multiple reasons, such as displacement, forced deportation, and a continuation of the conflict, increased the need for housing to shelter the needy. Non-governmental organizations played an important role in helping the needy by establishing housing projects to shelter them. These projects are considered unsustainable for many reasons, such as assault on agricultural land, cutting down trees, not treating wastewater, the absence of sustainable housing principles, etc. This paper aims to address the problem by finding basic points that contribute to developing a sustainable housing policy that can be applied to future shelter projects. To reach the goal of the research, quantitative data was used to find out the opinions of housing and shelter specialists through a questionnaire that was designed according to data summarized from previous studies and formulated according to the five axes of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was then presented to 100 participants, after which the data was analyzed according to the application of the Social Statistical Package (SPSS) and the results were discussed. Providing recommendations for the importance of sustainable housing policies to achieve sustainable shelter, the establishment of a higher council for housing, updating laws, securing appropriate land, encouraging scientific research, and abolishing taxes.

The Social Sustainability in Oman Residential Neighborhood, Case Study Barka, Almagh

The housing community plays an important role in individuals' leadership and social communication. Despite the Omani government's efforts to provide more housing to people in various forms, they ignore the social life in the new residential neighborhood when designing it sustainably. This paper deals with the study of the Maragh residential neighborhood to transform it into a socially sustainable residential neighborhood. In this research, the study used a literature review method and also a comparison method between the Maragh residential neighborhood in the state of Barka with the socially sustainable residential neighborhood Royal flight housing complex in the state of Seeb. Finally, the study transformed the Maragh residential neighborhood into a socially sustainable residential neighborhood by developing it as specified in the study.

Re-Conceptualizing Vertical Subdivision Development for Sustainable, Affordable Housing Delivery

Research on sustainable, affordable housing is evolving. Yet, its conceptual efficacy in light of the changing needs of today’s cities and targeted low-to-middle-income households remains unknown. In today’s rapidly urbanizing world, understanding the conceptual relevance and importance of land use planning tools such as vertical subdivision to the delivery of sustainable housing is tenable. In response to this knowledge gap, this entry inquires, how can the delivery of affordable housing be configured in a manner that leverages the potential of a redefined vertical subdivision development to optimize densities and ensure that housing affordability is sustainable? Here, this entry re-defines vertical subdivision development as a housing planning and design tool that allows for the segregation of air spaces into individual volumetric land parcels that mimic the environmental features of the land-on-ground, such that housing construction within such volumetric spaces is a function of the contextually relevant needs of occupants. This entry demonstrates a paradigm shift from existing housing infrastructure planning models and narratives to one that responds to and addresses all three dimensions of sustainability: economic (sustainable affordability), environmental (sustainable densities), and social (occupant wellness) in the housing infrastructure planning and delivery process.

Learning the harmony of indoor air quality from traditional housing. Case Study Batak Karo, Indonesia.

Air quality in buildings is an important principle for a sustainable building to create comfort and health for living things and the environment. This study wants to explore how the air quality in traditional housing can be feel comfortable. How the building was designed for passive cooling in harmony with environment surrounding. The combination of qualitative and quantitative descriptive approach was used to analyse the traditional Batak Karo house (Mecu Houses, The Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) was used to know how the air movement inside the house. The Mecu house as a vertical building design proposal. This study focuses on elements of air quality in buildings by using the theory from Iwamura Sustainability of Housing, Embedded in the Local Context. The results of this study showed that the traditional Batak Karo House has the pleasant indoor air quality that achieved from the unique type of roof and openings inside the roof.

Natural disasters and sustainable housing requirements in Libya-The case of Daniel Tornado in Derna

Natural disasters and sustainable housing requirements in Libya-The case of Daniel Tornado in Derna