Lateritic soils which have been described as highly weathered tropical or sub-tropical residual soils with varying proportions of particle sizes ranging from clay size to gravel, were studied in an attempt to establish its suitability or otherwise as sustainable material in building bricks and housing developments that will meet the present challenge of sustaining the environment without costing too much and maintaining a high standard of strength, durability and aesthetics. Index properties of the lateritic soils tested revealed them as mostly well-graded, comprising both cohesive (silt and clay) and cohesionless (sand and gravel) soil fraction. The mineralogical analysis shows the presence of sesquioxides in the clay portion which were found to be very useful in the natural binding process as well as in the presence of a stabiliser (cement). The geotechnical analysis on the lateritic soil revealed a strong compressive strength with a relatively sound dry density which could guarantee a good durability in resulting bricks made from these soil materials. Further test on the strength and durability of compressed earth bricks (CEBs) made from these lateritic soils revealed a brick with compressive strength ranging between 6.33 and 15.57 MPa which are considered to be of very good strength coupled with its sound durability strength established over a period more than one year under different kinds of severe weather and seasonal conditions. In conclusion, sesquioxides presence and mineralogy of lateritic soils were found to be largely responsible for their good compressive and durability strength which made them good and sustainable materials for CEBs. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Geology / PhD / Unrestricted

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With our country's unsustainable building practices in the residential sector, there is a need to explore new types of housing to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of current building customs. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in tiny homes characterized as livable dwelling units typically under 400 square feet. However, there is a gap in scholarly knowledge that formally examines how the environmental impact and behaviors of tiny home occupants change after downsizing from a larger home. The purpose of this study was to provide measurable evidence to explore the relationship between downsizing to a tiny home and the corresponding environmental impact. This study, which employed an exploratory sequential mixed design approach, was conducted to measure the ecological footprints of tiny home downsizers. Eighty individuals who have lived in their tiny homes for at least a year volunteered to take an online survey used to calculate their ecological footprints in prior larger homes and current tiny homes. Following the survey, nine interviews were conducted to create an inventory of noteworthy behaviors in each participant's lifestyles that potentially influence ecological footprint changes. Data collected from the survey and interviews were analyzed separately and then comparatively to explore relationships between tiny home living and environmental impacts. This study found that among 80 tiny home downsizers located across the United States, the average ecological footprint was 3.9 global hectares (gha). This footprint was substantially less than the average previous ecological footprint of 7.0 gha and the national average of 8.4 gha. All five footprint components were positively influenced, showing that downsizing can influence many parts of one's lifestyle. Over 100 behaviors were identified that could contribute to ecological footprint changes. The overall insights derived from this study indicate that positive environmental impact behaviors outweigh negative ones by approximately six to one when downsizing to a tiny home. In addition, 100% of participants demonstrated an overall positive ecological footprint. The findings and conclusions of this study provide important insights for the sustainable housing industry that can inform policy and practice, with implications for future research in the sustainable residential field. / Doctor of Philosophy / With our country’s unsustainable building practices in the residential sector, there is a need to explore new types of housing to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of current building customs. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in tiny homes characterized as livable dwelling units typically under 400 square feet. However, there is a gap in knowledge to understand how the environmental impact and behaviors of tiny home occupants change after downsizing from a larger home. The purpose of this study was to see whether there is a relationship between downsizing to a tiny home and a changing environmental impact. This study measured the ecological footprints of tiny home downsizers. Eighty individuals who have lived in their tiny homes for at least a year volunteered to take an online survey used to calculate their ecological footprints in prior larger homes and current tiny homes. Following the survey, nine interviews were conducted to identify noteworthy behaviors in each participant’s lifestyles that potentially influence ecological footprint changes. Findings were analyzed and compared to explore relationships between tiny home living and environmental impacts. This study found that among 80 tiny home downsizers located across the United States, the average ecological footprint was 3.9 global hectares (gha). This footprint was substantially less than the average previous ecological footprint of 7.0 gha and the national average of 8.4 gha. All five footprint components were positively influenced, showing that downsizing can influence many parts of one’s lifestyle. Over 100 behaviors were identified that could contribute to ecological footprint changes. This study indicates that positive environmental impact behaviors outweigh negative ones by approximately six to one when downsizing to a tiny home. In addition, 100% of participants demonstrated an overall positive ecological footprint. The findings and conclusions of this study provide important insights for the sustainable housing industry that can inform policy and practice, with implications for future research in the sustainable residential field.

Sustainable development is a principal concept for housing, urban infrastructure, energetics, transportation, or business. Fragmentation of concept definition is a result of abusive term overuse by the entire society. In 2015 UNECE established a clear sustainable housing definition through The Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing and its 34 Rationales. The UN encourages its member states to measure progress in sustainable development through existing or newly developed indicators. Existing commercial housing evaluation tools are insufficient for the Geneva UN Charter concept. Initially, the tools measured the so-called greenness of buildings overlooking anthropocentric and social qualities of housing underlined in the UN Geneva Charter. Commercial certification tools heavily reliant on profits often utilize incorrect concepts of sustainability. That results in false sustainability. This work aspires to introduce a transparent housing sustainability assessment tool for the Czech Republic. Firstly, were identified unique phenomena outlining the concept of housing sustainability. To identified phenomena were consequently nominated and assigned appropriate indicators. While in a different situation is housing interpreted as a human environment, building, home, investment, or fundamental human...

<p>The aim with this study is to evaluate if standardization of sustainable housing is a practical solution to address the objectives/reach the goals of sustainable housing. The point of departure is that eco-labelling of houses is a way to put sustainable housing into practice. The Nordic Swan criteria for small houses and the UK Code for Sustainable Homes are two recently developed schemes for sustainable construction and design. These two labelling systems are chosen as case studies in order to compare and examine the practice of sustainable housing. How can the goals of sustainable housing be met in the form of eco- labelling? What are the benefits and obstacles/limitations for the cases to be effective and sustainable?  What can explain differences between the two cases? And is the function and organisation of the cases best explained by sustainable development ideas or ecological modernization?  It is suggested in the view of path dependency theory that the UK’s and Sweden’s decisions based on their expectations concerning development of the EU flower has made their respective eco-labelling of houses to have different organisational structure. The Code as a sector-specific label has the advantage, compared to the Swan, of being able to change its structure depending on the needs of pressure in the network of government, business and consumers.  The Code has several criteria concerning sustainable living besides criteria concerning environmental construction of the house and can therefore be considered as part of the sustainable development discourse.</p>

Current trends in housing development are economically, socially and environmentally unsustainable. Co-operatives may have an advantage with respect to the sustainable development of housing and housing communities. The research focuses on the ability of housing co-operative organizations to function as learning organizations to advance goals of sustainability. Drawing on literatures focused on housing co-operatives, learning organizations, community capital and sustainability, the investigation primarily focuses on a single strategic case: a housing co-operative that actively pursues goals of sustainability. The research also includes information gathered through personal participation and observation during three years of membership in another housing co-operative. The research methods employed include observation, documentation, and personal and group interviews. The intent is to understand the extent to which housing co-operatives can be learning organizations with regards to various aspects of community sustainability. The term community sustainability encompasses issues related to the viability and longevity of the community itself, as well as the adoption and implementation of more sustainable consumption practices by community members. The use and refinement of selected criteria for organizational and social learning facilitated the investigation of the ways in which a specific housing co-operative, and housing co-operatives more generally, may function as learning organizations.

Current trends in housing development are economically, socially and environmentally unsustainable. Co-operatives may have an advantage with respect to the sustainable development of housing and housing communities. The research focuses on the ability of housing co-operative organizations to function as learning organizations to advance goals of sustainability. Drawing on literatures focused on housing co-operatives, learning organizations, community capital and sustainability, the investigation primarily focuses on a single strategic case: a housing co-operative that actively pursues goals of sustainability. The research also includes information gathered through personal participation and observation during three years of membership in another housing co-operative. The research methods employed include observation, documentation, and personal and group interviews. The intent is to understand the extent to which housing co-operatives can be learning organizations with regards to various aspects of community sustainability. The term community sustainability encompasses issues related to the viability and longevity of the community itself, as well as the adoption and implementation of more sustainable consumption practices by community members. The use and refinement of selected criteria for organizational and social learning facilitated the investigation of the ways in which a specific housing co-operative, and housing co-operatives more generally, may function as learning organizations.

The energy consumption of residential buildings in Canada accounts for 17% of national energy use (Trudeau, 2005). Production homes represent a considerable portion of new housing. In an effort to reduce the national energy demand, the energy consumption of these homes must be addressed. Techniques, methods and materials to achieve reductions in residential energy use are readily available. The goal of this thesis is to show that it is possible to build a low-energy home for less total carrying cost than a home built to the 2006 Ontario Building Code. To show how this is possible, a range of cost-effective and practical-to-implement upgrades are identified, and quantitative projections of cost-savings and benefits gained by the homeowner are generated. The interest in, and demand for, greener less energy consumptive homes is increasing. As oil prices rise, climate changes, landfills become overburdened and water restrictions become more frequent, the public pushes harder for change. The residential housing sector has seen increased demand for energy efficient homes that incorporate green features, high efficiency appliances and mechanical systems. Increased environmental concern has put ‘Green’ in demand. This thesis reviews a variety of North American green rating systems and contrasts their energy performance requirements with those of the Ontario Building Code. The Ontario Building Code was considered the baseline. Although the R2000 program was originally developed nearly 30 years ago it has managed to maintain a standard of performance that has always exceeded the OBC. It has a wider range of requirements than either the building code or ENERGY STAR, but falls short of the LEED for homes program in terms of breadth of environmental concerns. The literature review shows that homes that use 75% less heating energy than a standard house could be built in the 1980s for a mere 5% construction cost premium. When care is taken to produce quality designs and specifications, and to ensure that details are properly finished, these types of homes can be built almost anywhere. Some of the most successful technology and strategies of the 80’s have found their way into mainstream Canadian houses. As a result, the average new Canadian home consumes less energy than its predecessors. The Ontario building code has some of the most stringent thermal insulation and energy performance requirements of all provincial codes in Canada. However, significantly more can be done to economically reduce house energy consumption. A parametric analysis of a representative urban house was performed. This analysis suggests that there is significant room for improvement in the minimum Ontario Building Code requirements, especially with regard to the insulation and air tightness specifications. In 2006 the OBC requirements for above grade wall insulation were increased from R17 to R19 whereas this investigation found that R34 could be justified financially. The fenestration requirements in the 2006 OBC require windows to attain at least R2.8, while this investigation shows that a further 25% increase to R3.5 will soon be financially sensible.

The energy consumption of residential buildings in Canada accounts for 17% of national energy use (Trudeau, 2005). Production homes represent a considerable portion of new housing. In an effort to reduce the national energy demand, the energy consumption of these homes must be addressed. Techniques, methods and materials to achieve reductions in residential energy use are readily available. The goal of this thesis is to show that it is possible to build a low-energy home for less total carrying cost than a home built to the 2006 Ontario Building Code. To show how this is possible, a range of cost-effective and practical-to-implement upgrades are identified, and quantitative projections of cost-savings and benefits gained by the homeowner are generated. The interest in, and demand for, greener less energy consumptive homes is increasing. As oil prices rise, climate changes, landfills become overburdened and water restrictions become more frequent, the public pushes harder for change. The residential housing sector has seen increased demand for energy efficient homes that incorporate green features, high efficiency appliances and mechanical systems. Increased environmental concern has put ‘Green’ in demand. This thesis reviews a variety of North American green rating systems and contrasts their energy performance requirements with those of the Ontario Building Code. The Ontario Building Code was considered the baseline. Although the R2000 program was originally developed nearly 30 years ago it has managed to maintain a standard of performance that has always exceeded the OBC. It has a wider range of requirements than either the building code or ENERGY STAR, but falls short of the LEED for homes program in terms of breadth of environmental concerns. The literature review shows that homes that use 75% less heating energy than a standard house could be built in the 1980s for a mere 5% construction cost premium. When care is taken to produce quality designs and specifications, and to ensure that details are properly finished, these types of homes can be built almost anywhere. Some of the most successful technology and strategies of the 80’s have found their way into mainstream Canadian houses. As a result, the average new Canadian home consumes less energy than its predecessors. The Ontario building code has some of the most stringent thermal insulation and energy performance requirements of all provincial codes in Canada. However, significantly more can be done to economically reduce house energy consumption. A parametric analysis of a representative urban house was performed. This analysis suggests that there is significant room for improvement in the minimum Ontario Building Code requirements, especially with regard to the insulation and air tightness specifications. In 2006 the OBC requirements for above grade wall insulation were increased from R17 to R19 whereas this investigation found that R34 could be justified financially. The fenestration requirements in the 2006 OBC require windows to attain at least R2.8, while this investigation shows that a further 25% increase to R3.5 will soon be financially sensible.

This research examines energy poverty in the Daniel McIntyre and St. Matthews (DMSM) neighbourhoods in the city of Winnipeg. Energy poverty, defined as households spending more than 6% of their income on energy expenditures, affects as many as 50% of households in DMSM. Energy poverty can be alleviated through energy retrofits for dwellings such as weather stripping; increasing insulation in exterior walls, the attic and basement; and installing a high-efficiency furnace. The recommendations include: establishing consistent housing and energy efficiency policies; increasing the flexibility of utility on-bill financing; levying the necessary capital for energy retrofits through municipal financing mechanisms; increasing the knowledge and capacity of local residents; increasing the knowledge and capacity of local contractors for sustainable design and construction; creating a provincial strategy to increase the energy efficiency of social housing; developing low-income energy efficiency programs for rental properties; and increasing access to renewable energy sources.