Sustainability And Energy Efficiency In Housing - Essay Example

Sustainability and energy efficiency in housing The aim of the paper is to discuss the problems which have emerged in connection with housing and energy efficiency in the light of the current energy issues existing in all states. The technology of housing is changing, and the role of energy efficiency and sustainability in housing is essential for all spheres of human life, starting from better health and ending with better environment. Changing technology of housing in recent years In the light of the existing energy issues at the international level, and with the understanding that households, though not being the principal consumers of energy in most countries, still need major changes in construction technologies to make the impact of the energy issues as minimal as possible. These changes have been revealed in the number of strategies all over the world, which are developed at the state level and which are aimed at changing the traditional approaches towards construction to decrease energy consumption or at least to optimize it. The direction at energy consumption' optimization is seen through various construction technologies used at present in housing, among which are, for example, energy smart housing, the use of special energy, waste and other management principles in construction. (Edwards, 2000) The principal changes occur in managing housing, because architecture at present is supposed to be insufficient without the use of efficient energy-saving solutions. Residential developments in their new forms, as well as encouraging the development of such forms is a contributing factor into the sustainability of housing in all respects, including social, environmental and health sustainability. However, energy-saving technologies at present can be also characterized as being rather expensive for the average consumer, as well as it is also stated that house construction as it is has become unaffordable for many people; this is why another direction in changing construction housing technology can be taken by re-arrangement of the existing buildings and correcting the defects which are encountered in the houses which have been built a number of years before. The greatest changes which occurred in the construction policies over years can be listed as follows: ceiling insulation; area of north-facing windows; floor insulation; amount of thermal mass; wall insulation, etc. (Healy, 2004) Traditional and current practice in relation to health and safety issues in energy efficient and sustainable housing Housing and health outcomes have been related for many years, but only recently this interrelation has acquired sufficient support through changing construction techniques. 'Housing sustains and supports human life and thus housing environments directly and indirectly impact on health, social support, absence of disease, quality of life and well-being'. (Givoni, 1976) This is why housing and energy-efficient sustainable housing should be looked at as one of the fundamental parts of the society as a whole. There has been conducted serious research as for the practices in housing and health outcomes. Promoting construction worker and home occupant health is a strong component of sustainable design. Sustaining the health of construction site workers involves choosing less-toxic material alternatives and providing worker training in specialized installation procedures. There are several strategies that are important for addressing the health of home occupants over the long term. These include designs that provide for foundation radon venting in areas where radon is a concern. (Sunnikka, 2000) Energy-sufficient sustainable housing is the notion which includes the role of health of the future residents; for example, in the energy-efficient housing indoor temperatures are stabilized through the use of the adequate thermal mass (Williamson & Bennets, 2002), which ultimately leads to the decrease of the diseases which are directly connected with the rapid changes of temperatures (it is especially relevant for small children and people with chronic diseases). In relation to the health outcomes and the energy-efficient housing it is essential to note the following factors which should be accounted: internal planning should reduce the amount of energy required for heating and cooling, simultaneously providing minimal changes of indoor temperatures; proofing should be good draught; summer cooling can be provided by cross ventilation; the necessary volume of fresh air is essential for the normal living and functioning; efficient lightings and appliances with the account of the energy-efficient technologies should provide enough light for healthy vision. Among other factors which influence the housing performance for the better preventive and curative health outcomes are as follows: 1. Appropriate siting; 2. Incorporation of thermal mass; 3. Correct levels of insulation; 4. Selection and correct installation of the energy smart services; 5. Responsive and responsible use behavior in relation to the use of the energy-efficient technologies at home. (McLennan, 2004) All these factors are becoming priorities in the current technologies of housing. Energy-efficient housing is the factor which is used for the provision of the satisfactory preventive and curative health outcomes; moreover, architects at present clearly-well understand the importance of the housing sustainability for better health outcomes. Energy-efficiency and health factors in housing are closely interrelated; the explanation mostly lies in the fact, that properly designed houses with the account of energy-efficient technologies are first of all, ecologically safer than those built under traditional techniques; their design gives their residents better psychological state; In the attempt to assess what defects the houses built earlier, possess in relation to their sustainability and energy efficiency, it has been concluded that energy efficiency widely varies through the stock of the houses built several years ago; simultaneously, the energy efficiency of many much older houses has been improved through the time, as a result of the improvements made by the householder. (Gonzalo, 2006) However, the principal correlation discovered in this research has been between the age of the house and its energy efficiency. The principal factors, which are related to energy efficiency of the house, are the size of the dwelling and its age. (Brown, 2001) It is clear, that modern houses are much more often built with the account of the principal energy efficiency requirements. However, insulation and the quality of this insulation also affect energy efficiency of the house. Window sizes, distribution and building shape should be also born in mind, but they are of minor importance here. Range of health and environmental problems encountered in existing buildings in relation to housing sustainability 'Energy efficiency in a home considers both the rate of energy use and the source of the energy that is used. Sustainable design produces homes that use less energy to operate because they feature efficient designs, materials and systems. The most sustainable houses have highly efficient heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting systems, and appliances. In addition, these sustainable homes are built of energy-efficient materials carefully installed to prevent the loss of conditioned (i.e., heated or cooled) air.' (Gonzalo, 2006) In the process of analyzing the issues and defects which exist in the already built houses in terms of energy efficiency and environment, the following results have been found: with the requirements towards infiltration at the level of average one air change per hour, many houses are characterized by the indices of 0.25-0.5 changes; some house have been reported to have up to 5 changes, which is absolutely unacceptable in the light of the energy efficiency requirements as well as health outcomes; while the basic housing requirements note the ceiling insulation should be at the level of R2.5, the houses under analysis mostly displayed R3.5; many of them didn't have any ceiling insulation at all; with the energy efficiency considerations, it is appropriate if the orientation of the housing is north/west; while many of houses are oriented north, decreasing their energy efficiency. (Healy, 2004) The poor performance of the housing in relation to energy efficiency is not only wasteful for resources, but it is also the source of harmful pollution, in addition with being an contributory factor into poverty and poor health of the residents; this is why the noted defects are proving close interrelation of energy efficiency, housing and health outcomes; moreover, they also display the range of issues to be resolved for the significant improvements in the quality of life, health and material standards. These defects should be especially re-considered for those whose level of welfare is lower than average. Due to the wrong design, many families may not have proper conditions for heating their houses well; condensation and dampness are also frequently found in the analyzed dwellings. 'This has well established harmful effects on health7 and imposes an additional burden on deprived households. The improvement of domestic energy efficiency for lower income households can potentially enable them to heat their homes to a higher standard, reduce condensation and dampness, and release income for other purposes. ' (Bell, 1996) Conclusion The interrelation of housing, energy efficneicy, sustainability and health outocomes have acquired additional meaning in the recent years through understanding that the threats of energy and ecological crises should be reduced in every area possible. Housing has become the means of teaching people how to save finances through building and adjusting houses to energy-saving technologies, thus making the environment suitable for living. Construction of the sustainable houses is essential; houses which are planned to be constructed in the nearest future, will be built with the account of the factors, mentioned in the work; the housing stock which has already existed for a long period of time, and has been analyzed for the list of deficiencies, possesses a number of defects, which can be elilminated by the owners. Though it may seem that energy efficiency and sustainability are characteristics, which are included into the housing through the period of its construction, the principal defects identified can be corrected without any major changes in the general house design. Many European and other countries have developed a number of policies in relation to energy efficiency in housing; making it state program and priority for the aims of general health improvements as well as with understanding that energy efficiency should be promoted at the state level to make it work effectively. Such policies include basic requirements to each type of construction and housing stage, starting with the siting of the house, finishing with the position of windows and level of wall and ceiling insulation. Design of sustainable houses is acquiring more popularity; despite stating that new houses are becoming less affordable, and energy saving technologies are too expensive to be implemented across all layers of society, it is understandable, that with the help of various state policies the realization of these aims will become real and will lead to the improved design of houses in general, as well as to higher energy efficiency which is achieved through following basic housing and construction requirements. References Bell, Malcolm, (1996) Energy efficiency in housing (urban regional planning and development). London, Avebury Brown, D.E. (2001) Sustainable architecture white papers. Earth Pledge Foundation. Edwards, B. (2000) Sustainable housing: principles and practice. Taylor & Francis. Givoni, B. (1976) Man, climate and architecture. Applied Science Publishers. Gonzalo, R. (2006) Energy efficient architecture: basics of planning and construction. Birkhauser. Healy, D.J. (2004) Housinng, poverty and health: a pan-European analysis. Ashgate Publishing. McLennan, J. (2004) The philosophy of sustainable design. London, Ecotone Publishing Company. Mott-Smith, J. (1981) Local ordinances to improve energy efficiency of existing housing: a guide for local governments. The Commission. Odum, H. (1991) Environment, power and society (Environmental science and technology). New York: John Wiley and Sons. Sunnikka, M.M (2006) Policies for improving energy efficiency in the European housing stock: volume 9 Sustainable urban areas. London, IOS Press. Williamson, T.J, Bennets, H. (2002) Understanding sustainable architecture. Taylor & Francis. Zumthor, P. (2006) Thinking architecture. 2nd edition. Birkhauser. Read More