Implementation of green measures for sustainable low-income housing in developing countries : guidelines for the design of new settlements in the South African context.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
In South Africa, about 15,3% of the households were living in 2011 in formal
state-subsidised low-income houses (houses for households with income lower than
R 3500 - about $ 350 - per month), whereas 12,1% were living in informal dwellings.
The sustainable development of low-income housing is therefore one of the main
challenges for developing countries addressing the green Agenda as South Africa,
especially considering the quality of life of inhabitants and the complex socioeconomic
implications. Furthermore, the energy consumption patterns of low income
households have emerged as one of the most important factors influencing the
national electricity demand, as marked by the National Housing Code of 2009.
The complex social and environmental issues related to the living conditions of
low-income communities need to be addressed with an integrated approach to the
design of the settlements. Rethinking and greening the low-income housing design
principles firstly represent an opportunity to strive social inequity and improve the
quality of life of households.
The rationale of this study is to investigate how a strategic bottom-up
approach and multi-scale low-cost green measures, implemented in the design
process of South African low-cost housing, can potentially achieve environmental
and social sustainability targets with affordable solutions.
The dissertation analysed a representative case study of a low-cost housing
development in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The research adopted a bottom-up
approach combining participatory methods through a survey and interviews with the
local community, and a scenario analysis investigating design alternatives and multiscale
green strategies (i.e. alternative building typologies, densification, passive
design strategies). The proposed scenario evaluated the potential benefits of the
green implementation, through qualitative and quantitative assessments based on
sustainability indicators as environmental and energy impacts, social implications,
safety and cost effectiveness, supported also by experimental methods using
dynamic building energy modelling.
The study promoted an integrated and holistic research and design approach
to foster the sustainability in low-cost housing development. The outcome of this
integrated bottom-up approach defined a framework of good criteria and methods for the design process, which can be intended as a guideline to effectively
implement green measures and reach sustainability targets for low-cost settlements.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2014.
Keywords
Sustainable living--South Africa., Low-income housing--South Africa--Design and construction., Squatter settlements--South Africa--Designs and plans., Theses--Civil engineering.