1.  Current tools are:
 incapable of capturing whole set of components;
 far away from assessing “sustainability”.
 Same set of indicators are unable to assist different
stakeholders because of:
 stakeholders‟ technical capacities; and
 different requirements.
 Sustainability assessment, evaluation, monitoring and
reporting activities are devoted to sustainability experts
 The tools should be developed to:
 contribute towards consistency and translation of
the phenomenon which can be understood by all;
 have potential to take a common approach to
communicate sustainability; and
 Accelerate the uptake of the mainstream
sustainability agenda.
Research 2012
Approaches to
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
Critical assessment& evaluation of core drivers & issues
PGR Renuka Thakorea; PGR Andrey Benuzhb; Professor Jack Gouldingc.
Centre for Sustainable Development
Figure 1: Multi-level dynamics of
socio-technical transition.
This research critically synthesises extant literature on
sustainable housing constituting micro-level niches and tools
to assess their sustainability, along with practical applications
of these tools in decision making process to assist users in
implementing more sustainable criteria within the field of
sustainable housing.
Though effective macro-level policies at
national level are introduced, very little
research has studied sustainable housing
from a micro-level consumer and citizen
perspective.
INTRODUCTION
AIM
RESULTS
Macro-level: 'Social Technical
Landscape' (System Innovations):
Regulations such as PAS 2030; PAS
2050; Sustainable housing strategies for
2016; and regulators such as UKAS
Meso-level ‘Socio Technical
Regime’: BREEAM; LEED;
GRIHA; BASIX
Micro-level Niches:
Consumers and
citizens
CONCLUSION
ABSTRACT
This paper presents research findings on the criticality of
incorporating emerging non-traditional perceptions of
building sustainability assessment strategies (and adoption)
using bottom-up approaches for strategic management. It
highlights the need for developing much more robust and
practical housing sustainability assessment tools to make
informed decisions. A wide range of housing sustainability
assessment tools were identified through critical synthesis of
extant literature; along with core drivers and issues for further
development. This research contributes to the emerging
knowledge on potential sustainability perceptions mapped
against traditional sustainability indicators. The study
builds on the current perceptions of sustainability in housing
assessment (macro-level requirements) covering a wide range
of pivotal stakeholders, from regulatory bodies through to
construction, stakeholders and end users.
REFERENCES
BRE Global 2010-12 (2012). What is BREEAM? [Online]. Available at:
http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id=66 (Accessed on 30 April 2012).
Chater, C. (1997). Findings. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Housing Research 211.
May 1997.
Fowler, K. M., and Rauch, E. M. (2006). Sustainable Building Rating Systems
Summary. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Department of Energy. U.S.
PNNL-15858.
Indian Green Building Council. (2008). [Online]. Available at:
http://www.igbc.in/site/igbc/index.jsp (Accessed on 30 April 2012).
International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment. (2005). [Online].
Available at: http://www.iisbe.org/index.html (Accessed on 30 April 2012).
New South Wales Australian government. (2011). BASIX Fact sheet.
SPREAD Sustainable Lifestyles 2050. (2012). Emerging Visions for Future
Sustainable Lifestyles 2050. Social-economic Sciences and Humanity Policy
Brief. Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP). Germany.
Taipale, K. (2010). „Buildings and construction as tools for promoting more
sustainable patterns of consumption and production.‟ Sustainable Development
Innovation Briefs. The United Nations. Issue 9.
Tools Countries References
Building Research
Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method (BREEAM)
UK and
many other
countries
BRE Global
(2010-12)
Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)
US and other
countries
Fowler and
Rauch (2006)
Building and Sustainability
Index (BASIX) online tool
New South
Wales,
Australia
NSW Australian
Government
International Initiative for a
Sustainable Built Environment
International iiSBE (2005)
Indian Green Building Council
Leadership in Energy and
Environment Design (LEED
INDIA) and GRIHA
India IGBC (2008)
Key themes in Sustainable
Housing
International
Research bodies
Lack of consumer information Chater (1997)
Multi-level policies are needed
Taipale (2010)
Greater public awareness
A systematic, multi-sectoral, human-
centred approach
SPREAD Sustainable
Lifestyles 2050 (2012)
A deeper understanding of individual
lifestyle diversity
Sustainable lifestyles
Development of sustainable products
Contacts
a. rthakore@uclan.ac.uk;
b. abenuzh@uclan.ac.uk;
c. jsgoulding@uclan.ac.uk