A Transition to Sustainable Housing makes for accessible, important reading as we face the climate emergency. Trivess and Andréanne provide a much-needed inventory of current progress in the transition to sustainable housing.
Housing for a Sustainable Future
- Introduction
- A Changing World
- The Importance of Housing
- The Promise of Sustainable Housing
- The Current System
- Overview of the Book
This book examines the role that sustainable housing must play in the transition to a low-carbon future. While the benefits of sustainable housing are clear within a research context, there is currently only a small percentage of the housing market that achieves design, quality and performance outcomes that are in line with what is needed for a low-carbon future.
Pevalin, D.J., Taylor, M.P., and Todd, J., The dynamics of unhealthy housing in the United Kingdom: A panel data analysis. Sherriff, G., Ambrose, A., Butler, D., and Moore, T., The uneven and increasingly complex dynamics of decarbonisation and energy poverty in the context of unprecedented energy and climate crises.
Current Housing Provision
Introduction
We discuss some of these important policy mechanisms, including establishing and improving minimum performance requirements in building codes (section 2.3), using planning systems to require additional sustainability standards (section 2.4), and developing financial and other alternative mechanisms ( section). This provides the context for later chapters where we explore the range of challenges facing the housing sector and discuss current best practice in sustainable housing and policy.
The Market Failure of Sustainable Housing
In addition, with new housing construction representing only a small percentage of the total stock in the UK, the more significant issue is the poor design, quality and performance of existing housing which mainly has ratings of D or worse (Fig. 2.2). For example, 81% of the ads contained no energy efficiency keywords and another 15% contained only one keyword.
Building Codes
- Mandatory Codes
- Voluntary Codes
By far the most common policy approach has been to set minimum performance requirements within building codes. The energy shortages of the 1970s were an important turning point for the consideration of energy and sustainability within building codes [56, 64].
Planning
It also creates community-wide land use plans and is responsible for plans for small areas such as transportation corridors, business districts and neighborhoods. Local governments and planning departments use their official community plans (strategic planning document) and tools such as planning permission.
Alternative Mechanisms
More than ten years after the start of the campaign, average water consumption in Melbourne is still around 160 liters per person [91]. The Energy Star program was developed in the US in 1992 to address increased energy consumption from appliances, especially in homes, and is widely regarded as one of the more successful government energy efficiency programs [95].
Conclusion
Li, H.X., Moore, T., Huang, J., Zhang, P. and Costin, G., Towards zero-carbon housing in Victoria, Australia: a policy and incentive framework. Charalambides, A.G., Maxoulis, C.N., Kyriacou, O., Blakeley, E. and Frances, L.S., The impact of energy performance certificates on the goals of deep energy renovation of buildings.
A Critical Juncture
Introduction
We discuss this through sustainable housing innovations that relate to the broader sustainable housing transition (Sect. 3.3). We return to sustainable housing innovation ideas and case studies in Chapters.
An Urgency for Change
- Locked In
- Timeframes and Targets
- Green New Deals
These goals show that a transition to sustainable housing is not just about housing in developed countries switching from fossil fuel to renewable energy. The question of how to deliver sustainable housing is not just about design, materials, technology and construction methods; it is also about having a housing development that can deliver these results.
Innovations in Sustainable Housing
It is estimated that this requirement will affect just over 6% of UK dwellings. In Australia there have been ongoing challenges in delivering good quality design, usability and performance in the higher density residential space.
Conclusion
Sorrell, S., Gatersleben, B., and Druckman, A., The limits of energy sufficiency: A review of the evidence for rebound effects and negative spillovers from behavior change. Oswald, D., Moore, T., and Baker, E., Post-pandemic landlord-tenant relations in Australia, AHURI Final Report No.
The Sustainable Housing Challenge
Introduction
We structure the discussion in this chapter around the scales at which decisions are typically made: the residential scale (Sect.. 4.2), the neighborhood and city scale (Sect.. 4.3), and the state, national and international scale (Sect. Then we discuss the broader housing market and unwillingness to change (Sect.. 4.5) and the interconnected complexity of such changes (Sect.
Dwelling Scale
- Planning and Design
- Materials, Construction, and End of Life
- Use and Technology
In many developed countries there is some form of planning process involved in the provision of housing (see Chapter 2). In an interesting analysis of over 73% of US housing, Goldstein et al.
Neighbourhood and City Scale
- Where and How to House a Growing Population
- Urban Climate Change
This is largely due to the need for cheap land to build on, with the perception that it helps with housing affordability and that building new developments is easier and cheaper than infill2 or urban renewal/regeneration3. This has resulted in the loss of the natural environment, as areas that were forests or agricultural land are now being used to build new housing. Due to this heat island effect, temperature increases of up to 15 °C have been observed in urban areas [61].
State, National, and International Scale
- The Social Challenges
- Governance
This is helping to broaden the benefits and appeal of sustainable housing and address some of the arguments put forward by those against the changes. Worldwide, various reports point out that most of the housing stock in 2050 has already been built [96].
A Market Unwilling to Change
There is also a growing body of evidence linking the negative health and well-being consequences associated with unaffordable or insecure housing [ 112 , 113 ]. But there is a limit to the extent to which lower-income households can do this.
The Complexity of Housing
Research from around the world has consistently found significant tensions between the housing industry and regulators, and to a lesser extent consumers, over who exactly should be responsible for housing performance. There are a growing number of examples from around the world that have demonstrated that key proponents in the housing industry often overestimate their own analyses, with costs and benefits more closely aligned with government analyzes [125].
Conclusion
Goldstein, B., Gounaridis, D., and Newell, J.P., The ecological footprint of household energy consumption in the United States. Pevalin, D.J., Reeves, A., Baker, E., and Bentley, R., The impact of persistent poor housing conditions on mental health: a longitudinal population study.
Providing Sustainable Housing through Sustainability Transitions
Introduction
We begin this chapter by reviewing the theory and research on sustainability transitions, including an exploration of where sustainability transitions occur. Following this, we consider emerging research on sustainable housing and transitions and identify several important socio-technical dimensions of change, which will be discussed in more detail in the chapters.
Sustainability Transitions
The field of sustainable transitions emerged in the 1990s as a response to short-term policymaking around the world. The field of sustainable transitions is normative as it believes in finding solutions to create a more sustainable future.
![Fig. 5.1 The MLP and interactions between the three nested hierarchical levels [adapted from 7]](https://thumb-ap.123doks.com/thumbv2/123dok/11718468.0/140.629.82.534.90.373/fig-5-mlp-interactions-nested-hierarchical-levels-adapted.webp)
Where Do Transitions Occur?
One of the initial sectors to receive significant attention in the area of sustainability transition was energy. Within the energy transition field, there has been an increasing focus on the role of households and renewables as part of the broader sustainability transition.
Sustainable Housing Transitions
The sustainable housing transition has also shifted from being more focused on new housing to how to repair existing housing. There has so far been a lack of consideration of this within the conceptualization and provision of sustainable housing.
![Table 5.1 Contrasting socio-technical practices in sustainable housing niche and mainstream housing regime [adapted from 82, 86]](https://thumb-ap.123doks.com/thumbv2/123dok/11718468.0/149.629.64.548.136.792/contrasting-technical-practices-sustainable-housing-mainstream-housing-adapted.webp)
Conclusion
Elzen, B., Geels, F., and Green, K., System innovation and the transition to sustainability: theory, evidence and policy. Farla, J., Markard, J., Raven, R., and Coenen, L., Sustainability transitions in the making: A closer look at actors, strategies and resources.
Socio-Technical Dimensions for a Sustainable Housing Transition
Introduction
In this chapter we explore the key socio-technical dimensions that we have identified through the wider literature and our own research into sustainable housing, which we believe are important to address if a transition to sustainable housing is to be achieved. This chapter explores each dimension in turn by providing a definition and overview of how the current housing regime deals with this and how sustainable housing offers a different approach.
Guiding Principles
- Living Within Planetary Means
The drivers and motivations of sustainable housing stakeholders are not only focused on housing consumers, but more on improving quality and reducing environmental impact - both in construction and during the life of the dwelling and family [17]. Sustainable housing also goes far beyond what is set within the minimum building code requirements, taking a more holistic view of the key elements of sustainability.
Physical Attributes
- Cross Laminated Timber
Stakeholders involved in the provision of sustainable housing think about housing more holistically and focus on the needs of residents. As knowledge, understanding and technologies have improved, there are more and more examples of sustainable housing that looks and feels like standard housing.
Knowledge
- Vancouver House/Vienna House
On the other hand, sustainable housing stakeholders are interested in information and knowledge as evidence to improve their understanding and improve housing design, construction and upgrading. In addition, improving housing efficiency based on what happens around the dwelling is playing an increasing role in the design, construction and use of sustainable housing.
Geography
- Zoning Reform
There are calls and movements to eliminate single-family zoning, normally through “upzoning,” which refers to increasing density on many lots. In 2020, the Journal of the American Planning Association published a very special issue on the idea of ending single-family zoning [41].
Industrial Structures and Organizations
- Prefabrication
As explored in the previous dimension, this process also included sharing knowledge and lessons with the broader sustainable housing community [1]. An important element that already emerged in the transition to sustainable housing was challenging traditional views on finance and affordability.
Markets, Users, and Power
- Rating Tools
Sustainable housing differs from the current regime as it has a long-standing practice of engaging with housing consumers and key stakeholders in the design and housing construction industry. Sustainable housing actors and the current housing regime have often been compared to David and Goliath, with the current regime in power.
Policy, Regulations, and Governance
- Banning Fossil Fuel-Based Heating
Sustainable homes are primarily at the upper end of the market, while many in the existing housing industry are at the lower end. Advocates of sustainable housing are now challenging the existing governance and industry regimes on several fronts.
Everyday Life and Practices
- Electrification of Homes
Users of sustainable housing have been critical to the development of a wider sustainable housing community and have helped to shape, or reshape, policy and social norms. The move to the all-electric home has become an increasing focus among some stakeholders in the sustainable housing space [98].
Culture, Civil Society, and Social Movements
- Renew—Organization
Sustainable housing has explored different ways of providing housing and, in doing so, has established new habits, values and norms among industry stakeholders and consumers. Through these various activities, Renew has helped to reimagine housing and sustainable housing for Australian families through a largely bottom-up community approach and, in the process, managed to help establish new habits, values and norms.
Ethical Aspects
- Half a House
In this context, sustainable housing has been discussed, which can help with wider ethical and justice considerations, such as addressing the rising levels of fuel poverty around the world. Ethical aspects of housing transitions have not received much attention, but there are opportunities for sustainable housing research to incorporate good governance practices and reflections on poverty, equity and inclusion.
Conclusion
