ABSTRACT
Sustainable housing is currently finding its place in the housing market. As a result of global developments, public awareness and policy decisions, the housing industry is realizing that sustainability is an important market. Consumers begin to favour sustainable solutions for many reasons:
• direct savings from lower energy costs: experience shows potential savings as high as 75 per cent, with a payback as fast as two years for many features of such houses;
• these saving will be greater as non-renewable energy prices rise; and • there are non-energy benefits:
– better air quality, reducing asthma discomfort; – higher thermal comfort levels because of better insulation; – convenience (i.e. windows are easy to open, also making cleaning easier); – a better house, which will be easier to resell; and – taking responsibility for the environment.
