International Transdisciplinary Approach to Sustainability …
195
Sustainability and resilience are both important and interconnected goals for short(first costs, i.e. construction) and long-term (carrying costs, i.e. utility expenses)
of housing affordability. Sustainable, resilient affordable housing share goals for
improved energy efficiency, durability, and healthfulness. To achieve this, a wholistic
and integrative approach to housing design, construction, and operation is necessary.
The National Institute of Building Sciences Whole Building Design Guide
(WBDG) is a web-based portal that “provides up-to-date information on integrated
‘whole building’ design techniques and technologies.” It presents eight Design
Objectives, including sustainable, pertaining to environmental performance of building elements and strategies, and outlining related topics:
• Optimize Site Potential
• Optimize Energy Use
• Protect and Conserve Water
• Optimize Building Space and Material Use
• Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ); and
• Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices.
These topics are consistent with categories of sustainable development guidelines
including credits associated with USGBC LEED and imperatives of the International Living Future Institute Living Building Challenge. Two nationally-recognized
sustainability systems relevant to affordable housing include the ICC/ASHRAE
700–2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and Enterprise Green Communities (Enterprise). Both cover “above-code, voluntary sustainable design and
construction practices and programs into residential single-family and multi-family
buildings and are “recognized alternative compliance paths for demonstrating that
HUD- or USDA housing meets agencies’ energy-efficiency standards” (NAHB
2017). Recommendations are outlined in each of the sustainable design and development categories with emphasis on energy efficiency. The basis for energy performance standards and energy efficiency in most residential construction in the
U.S. is established by the RESNET HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index. It
measures a home’s energy efficiency based on comparative data against a similar
‘reference home’ based on a 100-point scale (RESNET 2018). A score of 100 is
comparable to a 2006 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) code-built
home. The lower the score, the better the energy efficiency. The U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have worked
together to establish the ENERGY STAR
® program as “America’s resource for saving energy”. The program sets efficiency standards for products as well as for homes
and buildings. Energy Strategies for buildings and plants are established based on
the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
® , which benchmarks properties based on a
100-point score. The ENERGY STAR program also provides a verified process for
improving energy performance in homes and apartments (https://www.energystar.
gov/newhomes). To be ENERGY STAR certified, housing (including single family
detached housing to multifamily buildings up to 5 stories above-grade) must be at
least 30% more energy efficient than a code-based home. More recently the U.S.
DOE introduced the Zero Energy Ready Home program, which “represents a whole
195
Sustainability and resilience are both important and interconnected goals for short(first costs, i.e. construction) and long-term (carrying costs, i.e. utility expenses)
of housing affordability. Sustainable, resilient affordable housing share goals for
improved energy efficiency, durability, and healthfulness. To achieve this, a wholistic
and integrative approach to housing design, construction, and operation is necessary.
The National Institute of Building Sciences Whole Building Design Guide
(WBDG) is a web-based portal that “provides up-to-date information on integrated
‘whole building’ design techniques and technologies.” It presents eight Design
Objectives, including sustainable, pertaining to environmental performance of building elements and strategies, and outlining related topics:
• Optimize Site Potential
• Optimize Energy Use
• Protect and Conserve Water
• Optimize Building Space and Material Use
• Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ); and
• Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices.
These topics are consistent with categories of sustainable development guidelines
including credits associated with USGBC LEED and imperatives of the International Living Future Institute Living Building Challenge. Two nationally-recognized
sustainability systems relevant to affordable housing include the ICC/ASHRAE
700–2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and Enterprise Green Communities (Enterprise). Both cover “above-code, voluntary sustainable design and
construction practices and programs into residential single-family and multi-family
buildings and are “recognized alternative compliance paths for demonstrating that
HUD- or USDA housing meets agencies’ energy-efficiency standards” (NAHB
2017). Recommendations are outlined in each of the sustainable design and development categories with emphasis on energy efficiency. The basis for energy performance standards and energy efficiency in most residential construction in the
U.S. is established by the RESNET HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index. It
measures a home’s energy efficiency based on comparative data against a similar
‘reference home’ based on a 100-point scale (RESNET 2018). A score of 100 is
comparable to a 2006 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) code-built
home. The lower the score, the better the energy efficiency. The U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have worked
together to establish the ENERGY STAR
® program as “America’s resource for saving energy”. The program sets efficiency standards for products as well as for homes
and buildings. Energy Strategies for buildings and plants are established based on
the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
® , which benchmarks properties based on a
100-point score. The ENERGY STAR program also provides a verified process for
improving energy performance in homes and apartments (https://www.energystar.
gov/newhomes). To be ENERGY STAR certified, housing (including single family
detached housing to multifamily buildings up to 5 stories above-grade) must be at
least 30% more energy efficient than a code-based home. More recently the U.S.
DOE introduced the Zero Energy Ready Home program, which “represents a whole