Volatile and rising global fuel prices present a tremendous challenge to our energy-dependent economy, and the ramifications are especially great for low-income households. Residential weatherization programs represent a tremendous opportunity to shield vulnerable populations, but the allocation of funding and assessment of efficacy has historically been fraught with political and procedural hurdles. This report examines the methods of assessing the efficacy of low-income weatherization and proposes a set of best practices. / text

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

International debates in the field of development have redefined housing as sustainable housing. Thus, housing no long refers to the delivery of physical products. The introduction of the concept of sustainability has far reaching consequences for the delivery of housing, which now amounts to the creation of viable communities. Moreover, the delivery of housing now takes place within the context of a policy framework that is indicative of a complete reversal of past policies towards developmentally-oriented, integrated approaches aimed at bringing about the long term sustainability of a vibrant and organic civil society. Significantly, the conception of housing as a process prioritises community control of projects at the local level with the assistance of external role players. Unfortunately, this long awaited component of housing projects is often marred by capacity constraints on the part of beneficiary communities who cannot participate and lor negotiate with other stakeholders in the delivery of housing. Therefore, the level at which this investigation is focused is on the mediation of community participation by all the relevant stakeholders in order to unravel the influence that this has on the quality of the housing products that are received. In this respect, an inquiry into the concepts of participation is tested against a case study of a community involved in a housing project and concludes that community participation is indeed mediated by many role players and that their influence has a determining effect on the quality of the social and physical products received. / Thesis (M.Sc.U.R.P)-University of Natal, Durban, 1996.

The desire of modern democratic governments is to provide basic amenities for its citizenry and the present South African Government has indicated this in several of its documents including the document on Reconstruction and Development. The question of adequate shelter has been identified as one of the burning issues that require urgent and immediate attention. However, the question still remains: "Is the state the best organ of society to be directly involved in the actual provision of housing or is this function best left to the private sphere of society, above all, private society and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)?". This dissertation considers the methods and other related ways in which to assist the poorest of the poor in meeting their housing needs through the intervention of Non-Governmental Organisations. In attempting to do this, the study looks at a case study of an NGO that has been involvedin housing provision. The aim is to find out whether this sphere of housing activity is best suited for NGOs especially where the issues of the poorest of the poor are concerned. The thesis reviews various international as well as local cases pertaining to housing provision and contribution towards finding interventionist approaches to be adopted in order to realise the desires of the new democratic government in housing for all. / Thesis (M.Sc.U.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1997.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.U.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1999.

At this political time and age, when apartheid has been repealed , the housing backlog determined and the government has committed itself to housing the previously disadvantaged and made resources available , it is imperative to deliver housing at scale. This delivery should happen in a manner that not only provides housing opportunities to the poor and homeless but also ensures that where they are located they have equal access to opportunities. This study aims to identify opportunities that avail themsel ves to housing development interventionists to enable them to restructure the city through housing development. It also warns ofthe limitations that these interventionists are likely to encounter in this endeavour. The study will therefore be informative to a number of people and organisations involved in housing delivery. The objective is to identify the limitations and opportunities and then suggest some innovative interventions that have the potential to circumvent limitations and maximise opportunities to restructure the city. Potential beneficiaries ofthe study include officials ofthe city of Durban, policy makers at both provincial and local level, students, private developers, planners and other professionals in Durban and elsewhere. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1999.

This dissertation explores renewable energy strategies for low-income housing in South Africa using several case studies from the City of Cape Town and surrounding areas. The paper engages with the background and theories underpinning renewable energy for low income housing, analysing the key literature and focusing on renewable energy policies and current research in Cape Town, South Africa. It attempts to analyse the implications of current policy, the practical implications of renewable energy in low income housing developments and the conflicts that can occur between environmental and poverty interventions. The research for this paper involved face to face interviews with individuals working in the renewable energy for low income housing field or exposed to projects of this type. From these interviews it emerged that renewable energy interventions in housing can more significantly reduce environmental impact when applied in middle and upper income housing developments. but also that particular kinds of renewable energy and energy efficiency interventions are suitable for low income housing developments. It became clear that the role of the town planner is central in ensuring the success of renewable energy projects, and that political will is also a key factor. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.