This study proposes a series of 3 experiments to explore how different types of staging, pictures versus virtual reality, impacts potential buyers’ likelihood of wanting to visit a home. Moreover, this study seeks to address how the type of market, hot versus cold, and type of home, luxury versus non-luxury, connects with staging and its impact on wanting to visit a home. In Experiment 1, participants will view 10 total homes, 5 randomly selected with staged pictures first followed by the remaining 5 with virtual reality, either within the hot or cold market. If VR increases presence, then people should be more likely to want to visit a house especially in a hot market given that there is a high demand for a constrained supply. Experiment 2 addressed the contrast effect limitation given that virtual reality staging always came after the pictures of staging within Experiment 1. Experiment 2 should replicate the results of Experiment 1 by removing the contrast effect. Finally, Experiment 3 will explore the impact of type of home, luxury versus non-luxury, and type of staging on wanting to visit a home. Researchers are expected to find that participants who viewed properties in virtual reality are more likely to want to visit the home compared to those that saw staged images because of increased presence, which will make them feel more connected to the home compared to viewing staged pictures. Ultimately, this study is important because it aims to identify the utility of VR in home sales.

Since the end of World War II, American cities have been stuck in the development trend of urban sprawl. The suburban ideal and proliferation of the automobile have fostered this trend, as well as several other negative issues in our society including inefficient land use and isolation of lower social and economic groups. After fifty years as the model by which American cities grow, it has proven itself to be both inefficient in land use and ineffective in bridging the social gaps that have existed since its inception. A new model for city growth is necessary, one that encourages steady and denser development, and the evolution of such a model should begin in a place in which the core of many American cities are built upon: the neighborhood. This thesis will research the ideas present in many traditional American neighborhoods, ideas that have allowed many of these neighborhoods to exist as integrated urban microcosms within cities even into the modern era in which we now live. The goal is not to simply mimic these ideas and the situations which encouraged them, but to reestablish them with consideration to modern issues, lifestyles, and cultures that exist today. Research will be conducted into the nature of neighborhoods as social phenomena as a way to understand, and therefore respond to, how we interact with one another in the places in which we live. Research will also be conducted specific to the city of Tampa, Florida; exploring the structure of existing neighborhoods in Tampa as well as housing types commonly found in the city. The case study of Radburn, New Jersey will be examined as well as New Urbanism ideas to understand how others have approached the idea of neighborhood. Neighborhoods were once the dominant method of development in the United States prior to the Great Depression and World War II. Urban sprawl and suburbia abandoned the idea of neighborhood in favor of a different ideal for living; an ideal which, whether intentional or not, encouraged private living and design decisions which centered around the automobile rather than people and social situations. While design investigations will include macro and micro strategies, a specific goal will be to explore how the design and planning of single family homes can be rethought to provide more frequent opportunities for social interactions with ones neighbor as well as improved relationships with the street. The conclusions of this thesis will aim to prove that reestablishing this phenomenon in urban planning can provide positive growth, encourage social interaction, as well as allow our basic nature as humans to take root.

This thesis consists of three papers on econometric modeling of spatial dependence. The awareness of interactions between actors is fundamental for understanding property markets as well as the growth of regions. In both cases, neighbors and neighboring markets may stimulate or hamper growth of values. From a modeling point of view, these interdependencies calls for spatial econometric models. In the thesis we introduce such methods in the analysis of regional property markets as well as in a comparative regional growth analysis. In the first paper, we estimate hedonic prices in the market for co-operative flats in the city of Umeå, Sweden, during 1998 and 1999. Structural, neighborhood, and accessibility characteristics are used as attributes in the hedonic price function. Important attributes were the rent, floor space, age, and population density. Two attractive nodes, although with different characteristics, were found. Thus there are signs supporting the view that Umeå has developed into a multi-nodal structure for property values. SAR-GM estimation was used due to signs of spatial error dependence. In the second paper, hedonic prices for single-family homes in two Swedish counties are estimated for two years. Parameter estimates are compared and changes in space and time analyzed. Spatial lag dependence is found to influence the results. Hence, four independent variables are lagged with a spatial weights matrix. Additional spatial error dependence is treated by SAR-GM estimation. Structural, neighborhood, and accessibility characteristics are used as attributes. The regional price pattern and its changes over time, is illustrated and identified with GIS maps. Proximity to the two county capitals, as well as the other municipality centers, influence property prices positively. This is also noticable over time, where values have risen for homes located near major population centers and those which have water provided by the municipality. Values are in addition largely a function of the quality of each home. The third paper examines the provincial pattern of growth in China during the period 1985-2000, testing the hypothesis that provinces with similar growth rates are more spatially clustered than would be expected by chance. The provincial economic growth is explained by the distribution of industrial enterprises, foreign direct investment, infrastructure, and governmental preferential policies. The neoclassical hypothesis of convergence is also tested. Indications of unconditional convergence does occur during the periods 1985-2000 and 1985-1990. In addition, conditional convergence is found during the sub-period 1990-1995. Evidence of spatial dependence between adjacent provinces has also been established, and in the econometric part, solved by a spatial lag, or alternatively a spatial error term, in the growth equation.

Syftet med den här studien är att beskriva och analysera hur ett småhus ålder kan påverka marknadsvärdet och taxeringsvärdet för en småhusfastighet samt hur den svenska taxeringsmodellen tar hänsyn till hur ett småhus ålder påverkar värdet. Målet är att ge förslag på hur ett småhus ålder kan behandlas vid fastighetstaxering i Sverige. Ett småhus definieras som en byggnad inrättad till bostad för en till två familjer och en småhusfastighet utgörs av ett småhus plus dess tomtmark. Vid fastighetstaxering av småhusfastigheter i Sverige bestäms ett byggnads- och ett tomtmarksvärde som sedan slås ihop till ett taxeringsvärde för småhusfastigheten, taxeringsvärdet ska motsvara 75 % av marknadsvärdet två år före taxeringsåret. Byggnadsvärdet respektive tomtmarksvärdet bestäms utifrån olika värdefaktorer, en av dem är värdefaktorn ålder vilket anges som ett värdeår ämnat att uttrycka en byggnads återstående ekonomiska livslängd. Metoder som har använts i studien är en litteraturstudie som granskat tidigare forskning inom ämnet samt lagstiftning och facklitteratur. En kvantitativ undersökning av småhus och köp i Gävle kommun har genomförts för att skapa en generell bild av hur ett småhus ålder påverkar småhusfastigheters taxeringsvärde samt en generell bild av när taxeringsvärdet är svårbedömt på grund av ett småhus ålder. För att erhålla en djupare förståelse för hur ett småhus ålder kan påverka småhusfastigheters marknadsvärde genomfördes en kvalitativ undersökning av ett fåtal småhus. Resultatet av litteraturstudien visar att de åldersrelaterade variabler som kan påverka ett småhus marknadsvärde är: depreciering, läge, byggnadskonstruktion, underhåll samt vintage-effekt. De åldersrelaterade variabler som den svenska taxeringsmodellen tar hänsyn till är: depreciering, åldersinverkan i förhållande till läge samt jämkning av värdeår. Litteraturstudien samt den kvantitativa och den kvalitativa undersökningen tyder på att det finns vissa brister i hur åldersfaktorn hanteras vid fastighetstaxering i Sverige, främst när det gäller äldre byggnader. Eftersom de båda undersökningarna genomfördes endast med småhusfastigheter i Gävle kommun är dock resultatet inte direkt applicerbart på hela Sveriges småhusbestånd. Ändock drogs slutsatsen att det anses motiverat att ge förslag på hur den svenska taxeringsmodellen kan behandla åldersfaktorn vid fastighetstaxering av småhus. Förslaget innefattade de åldersrelaterade variablerna: depreciering, läge, underhåll, köparpreferenser samt byggnadskonstruktion.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T13:57:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RobertaXC_DISSERT.pdf: 4166045 bytes, checksum: 894975e1c1335191405209ea0dab5613 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / This paper studies modern houses built in the neighborhoods of Cabo Branco, Tamba? and Mana?ra by the seafront in Joao Pessoa, built between 1960 and 1974. We start from the already widespread notion that Brazilian Modern Architecture was inspired by foreign ways, mainly European but also American here recast, adapted, often innovating repertoire and ideas received (Y. BRUAND, 2005; H. SEGAWA, 2002; C. E. COMAS, 2002; C. E. COMAS, 2002; M. M. ACAYABA e S. FICHER, 1982; M. B. C. ARANHA, 2008; F. C. L. LARA, 2001; R. V. ZEIN, 2005; L. E. AMORIM, 1999, C. V. STINCO, 2010). With this look, after a field study, we collected 61 specimens in the collection of the Central Archive of Jo?o Pessoa City Hall, in order to identify which reformulations, adaptations or innovations would exist in modern houses built along the coast in Jo?o Pessoa. As we try to analyze the houses by what the bibliography had suggested (G. C. ARGAN, 1992; L. CORBUSIER, 2002; C.E.D. e M. ADRI?, 2007; K. FRAMPTON, 1997; H. H. HITCHCOCK, 1976; L. BENEVOLO, 2004; R. DE FUSCO, 1992, N . PEVSNER, 2002; M. RAGON, 1986; B. RISEBERO, 1982; E. ROBBINS, 1997; W. J. R. CURTIS, 1982; V. SCULLY, 2003; B. ZEVI, 1984; D. DUNST, 1999; A. COLQUHOUN, 2002; R. WESTON, 2005; A. I?AKI, 2006; J. PETER, 1994) the starting idea seemed to us not sufficiently developed. So we decided, first, to undertake a literature review comparing speech and image of modern houses most often cited by international and national literature, following a script freely inspired the Vitruvian triad: the functional and spatial (sectorization, guidance, spatiality, movement); constructive aspects (structural elements, modulation, deck, sealing), and aesthetic aspects (composition, apertures, ornaments) (Cap.1), then cast a look under this same route in 61 specimens obtained initially, trying to verify any specificities they would have (Cap.2). Failing to deepen the analysis of all these examples, we chose 10 projects which were redesigned and described in more detail to which we supplement with the aspects of place - location / lot location, access, axiality. (E. C. MAHFUZ, 2002; J. C. MIGUEL, 2000; E. C. CHEREGATI, 2007; M. COTRIM, 2007). (Cap. 3). The documentation and description resulting allowed us to approach some related questions about the canonical transcripts hybridizing, adoptions and any vernacular innovations of modern houses along the coast, We conclude that the appellants and anachronistic elements isolates found in each of the studied bind to the Brazilian Modern Architecture / Este trabalho estuda casas unifamiliares modernas situadas nos bairros de Cabo Branco Tamba? e Mana?ra na Orla Mar?tima de Jo?o Pessoa, constru?das entre os anos 1960 e 1974. Partimos da id?ia j? bastante difundida de que a Arquitetura Moderna Brasileira inspirou-se em vertentes estrangeiras, sobretudo europ?ias, mas tamb?m norte-americanas aqui reformuladas, adaptadas, inovando muitas vezes repert?rio e ide?rios recebidos (Y. BRUAND, 2005; H. SEGAWA, 2002; C. E. COMAS, 2002; M. M. ACAYABA e S. FICHER, 1982; M. B. C. ARANHA, 2008; F. C. L. LARA, 2001; R. V. ZEIN, 2005; L. E. AMORIM, 1999; C. V. STINCO, 2010). Com este olhar, ap?s um trabalho de campo, coletamos 61 exemplares no acervo do Arquivo Central da Prefeitura Municipal de Jo?o Pessoa, com o intuito de identificar que reformula??es, adapta??es ou inova??es existiriam na modernidade das casas da orla pessoense. Ao tentarmos analis?-las, ? luz das sugest?es da bibliografia, (G. C. ARGAN, 1992; L. CORBUSIER, 2002; C. E. D. COMAS, e M. ADRI?, 2007; K. FRAMPTON, 1997; H. H. HITCHCOCK, 1976; L. BENEVOLO, 2004; R. DE FUSCO, 1992; N. PEVSNER, 2002; M. RAGON, 1986; B. RISEBERO, 1982; E. ROBBINS, 1997; W. J. R. CURTIS, 1982; V. SCULLY, 2003; B. ZEVI, 1984; D. DUNSTER, 1999; A. COLQUHOUN, 2002; V. SCULLY, 2003; R. WESTON, 2005; A. I?AKI, 2006; J. PETER, 1994) a id?ia de partida pareceu-nos insuficientemente desenvolvida. Resolvemos assim, primeiramente, empreender uma revis?o bibliogr?fica cotejando discurso e imagem das casas modernas mais citadas pela bibliografia internacional e nacional, seguindo um roteiro livremente inspirado da tr?ade vitruviana: aspectos funcionais e espaciais (setoriza??o, orienta??o, espacialidade, circula??o); aspectos construtivos (elementos estruturais, modula??o, coberta, veda??es), e aspectos est?ticos (composi??o, aberturas, ornamentos) (cap.1), Em seguida, lan?amos um olhar, sob este mesmo roteiro, nos 61 exemplares obtidos inicialmente, tentando verificar que eventuais especificidades conteriam (cap.2). Na impossibilidade de melhor aprofundar a an?lise de todos estes exemplares, escolhemos 10 projetos que foram redesenhados e descritos de maneira mais detalhada aos quais complementamos com os aspectos do lugar - localiza??o/lote, implanta??o, acessos, axialidade. (E. C. MAHFUZ, 2002, J. C. MIGUEL, 2000; C. E. CHEREGATI, 2007; M. COTRIM, 2007). (cap.3). A documenta??o e descri??o resultantes permitiram-nos aflorar algumas quest?es acerca dos referentes can?nicos, transcri??es hibrida??es, ado??es vern?culas e eventuais inova??es das casas modernas da orla mar?tima. Conclu?mos que os elementos isolados recorrentes e anacr?nicos encontrados em cada um dos exemplares estudados os vinculam a Arquitetura Moderna Brasileira

Klimatet är i en ständig förändring och den globala uppvärmningen är bland det störstamiljöhoten i världen. Människans utsläpp av växthusgaser är den främsta orsaken till denklimatförändring vi ser idag. En betydande del av samhällets miljöpåverkan kommer frånbygg- och fastighetssektorn. Byggmaterial står idag för betydande utsläpp. Gipsskivoranvänds flitigt inom byggprojekt. I denna studie undersöks och jämförs olika skivmaterial som används som ytskikt tillinnerväggar i småhus. Studien går in på funktionskrav och miljöaspekter med fokus påkoldioxidutsläpp. Syftet med studien har varit att ta reda på om det finns något rimligtersättande skivmaterial för gips i innerväggar i småhus. Med hjälp av en kvantitativ studie harflera olika skivmaterial analyserats och jämförts, först för att se om de har en godkändbrandklass för småhus och därefter har skivmaterialen jämförts med hänsyn påkoldioxidutsläppet. Skivans pris, vikt, återbruk och återvinning har tagits i beaktande menfokuset har varit på koldioxidutsläppet. Resultatet av arbetet visade en bred spridning av mängden koldioxidutsläpp mellan dematerial som undersöktes. För att besvara frågeställningen analyserades även vikt och pris pådiverse produkter som även de visade på en bred spridning. Slutsatsen i detta arbete blev attde träbaserade skivmaterialen var rimliga ersättare till gipsskivor i torrum ur en miljömässigsynvinkel med koldioxidutsläppet i fokus. / The climate is constantly changing and global warming is among the largest environmentalthreats in the world. Human emission of greenhouse gases is the main cause of climatechange we see today. A significant part of society's environmental impact comes from theconstruction and real estate sector. Building materials today stand for significant emissions.In this study different sheet materials used as surface layers in single family houses areexamined and compared. The study addresses functional requirements and environmentalaspects with the focus on carbon dioxide emissions.The purpose of this study is to find out if there are any reasonable replacement sheetmaterials for plaster in interior walls of single family houses. Via a quantitative study severaldifferent sheet materials have been analyzed and compared, first to see if they have anapproved fire class for single family houses and thereafter the sheet materials have beencompared regarding carbon dioxide emissions. Price, weight and recycling have been takeninto account but the focus has been carbon dioxide emissions.The result of this report showed a wide spread of the amount of carbon dioxide emissionsbetween the different materials that has been analyzed. To answer the issue, price and weightwere also analyzed, which also showed a wide spread. The conclusion of this report was thatthe wood based sheet materials were a reasonable replacement for plasterboards indoors froman environmental point of view with carbon dioxide emissions as the focus.

In the context of electricity, arbitrage trading involves taking advantage of existing price variations within electricity markets. The report conducted financial modelling for energy storage systems and demand-side load management for electricity arbitrage trading in single-family homes. The analysis included two different energy storage systems: a thermal energy storage system and a battery energy storage system. Additionally, electricity spot cost reduction was compared between electricity arbitrage trading and traditional energy efficiency measures such as air-to-water and ground-source heat pumps. The report's findings indicated that air-to-water and ground-source heat pumps emerged as the most economically viable choices for reducing electricity spot costs, irrespective of the studied electricity price area. The thermal energy storage system, employing an insulated hot water storage tank, ranked the third most efficient in achieving cost savings. The battery energy storage system, represented by a lithium home battery system, demonstrated the lowest rate of cost saving among the analyzed energy efficiency measures.  The financial modelling highlighted the economic potential for thermal energy storage systems, particularly in southern Sweden's electricity price areas SE3 and SE4. On the other hand, no economically viable options for battery energy storage systems were identified, regardless of the studied electricity price area. As a results, the report recommends utilizing thermal energy storage systems and implementing demand-side load management as strategies to hedge against future electricity price volatility.