Sustainable housing : awareness and priorities when planning a first home

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the awareness of the choices people make for sustainable housing while planning or living in their first home; the knowledge and application by an engineer, architect and an interior designer; and national and international documents with respect to sustainable development particularly sustainable housing. A mixed-methodology approach including a quantitative questionnaire focusing on five themes (general knowledge, water consumption, energy consumption, waste and education for the general public) and three qualitative interviews with the above mentioned professionals were purposely designed for this study. A quantitative analysis of responses from 116 participants revealed, among other things, that this sample is knowledgeable on aspects of energy efficiency, water consumption and waste management within sustainable homes and are conscious that their efforts will help reduce global warming. The questionnaires also reveal that passive solar practices are more popular than active solar practices in order to increase energy efficiency. The qualitative interviews indicate that the interior designer, engineer and architect believe that it would be better to design a new house rather than modify an existing one. Better planning at these initial stages can be cheaper too. According to these interviewees the main trend which is prompting consumers to request sustainable homes is the increase in utility bills; however, government grants are incentives. The findings which support the research questions and aims of this study are discussed and provide various suggestions to guide policy makers and for other studies.