International Transdisciplinary Approach to Sustainability …
197
and National Association of Home Builders, ICC 700/ASHRAE National Green
Building Standard, and others outlined above), must be taken into consideration.
In addition, topics of sustainable design and development are to be aligned with
premises of ecosystems services for an integrated design solution with the natural
environment.
5 Relation Between American and Brazilian Energy
Efficient Affordable Houses
In housing—in Brazil and the U.S.—most design decisions are funneled to short-term
economic concern. A cultural change is needed to ensure sustainability and resilience
by relating the built and natural environment. Considerations about materials source,
durability, and performance need to come to the front of design and construction
priorities, together with developments location both for social integration of the
community with the town and for commuting and its environmental impact. Natural
ventilation is already part of the Brazilian national culture. However, its benefits
are getting lost to artificial air conditioning and automatically controlled building
systems. If design solutions ensure adequate levels of thermal comfort, this process
can be reverted. This is directly related to envelope improvements associated with
energy efficiency and, therefore, with sustainability and resilience. In this sense, longterm benefits that are related to environmental and social impacts need to become
an essential part and value in the construction sector when it comes to affordable
housing.
Tenets of passive solar design, and associated ideas for “Passive Survivability” are
central to achieving affordable housing in Brazil and the United States. Differences in
how this is achieved is informed by climate. Equally important are an understanding
of material availability and variability of details. Therefore, cultural knowledge is
paramount. Housing, therefore is an affordable, sustainable housing therefore, is
a complex social-ecological challenge. According to Brandt et al. (2013), socialecological systems requires a transdisciplinary research approach.
6 Transdisciplinary Approach Between Ecology, Design,
and Project Realization
Transdisciplinary work is a powerful means to address sustainability, resilience and
making life better for people through their most personal and valuable possession—
their homes. Moreover, it is necessary for deep ecological thinking and realizing the
mutually beneficial gift provided by ecosystems services. To design in a way that
is culturally and ecologically responsible deep we must build knowledge through
197
and National Association of Home Builders, ICC 700/ASHRAE National Green
Building Standard, and others outlined above), must be taken into consideration.
In addition, topics of sustainable design and development are to be aligned with
premises of ecosystems services for an integrated design solution with the natural
environment.
5 Relation Between American and Brazilian Energy
Efficient Affordable Houses
In housing—in Brazil and the U.S.—most design decisions are funneled to short-term
economic concern. A cultural change is needed to ensure sustainability and resilience
by relating the built and natural environment. Considerations about materials source,
durability, and performance need to come to the front of design and construction
priorities, together with developments location both for social integration of the
community with the town and for commuting and its environmental impact. Natural
ventilation is already part of the Brazilian national culture. However, its benefits
are getting lost to artificial air conditioning and automatically controlled building
systems. If design solutions ensure adequate levels of thermal comfort, this process
can be reverted. This is directly related to envelope improvements associated with
energy efficiency and, therefore, with sustainability and resilience. In this sense, longterm benefits that are related to environmental and social impacts need to become
an essential part and value in the construction sector when it comes to affordable
housing.
Tenets of passive solar design, and associated ideas for “Passive Survivability” are
central to achieving affordable housing in Brazil and the United States. Differences in
how this is achieved is informed by climate. Equally important are an understanding
of material availability and variability of details. Therefore, cultural knowledge is
paramount. Housing, therefore is an affordable, sustainable housing therefore, is
a complex social-ecological challenge. According to Brandt et al. (2013), socialecological systems requires a transdisciplinary research approach.
6 Transdisciplinary Approach Between Ecology, Design,
and Project Realization
Transdisciplinary work is a powerful means to address sustainability, resilience and
making life better for people through their most personal and valuable possession—
their homes. Moreover, it is necessary for deep ecological thinking and realizing the
mutually beneficial gift provided by ecosystems services. To design in a way that
is culturally and ecologically responsible deep we must build knowledge through