The search for the most eco-efficient strategies for sustainable housing construction; Dutch lessons

Although sustainability plays an increasingly important role in common building practice, there is very little known about the environmental benefits of sustainable housing construction. This paper presents a framework for the search for the most eco-efficient strategies for sustainable housing construction and discusses the environmental benefits of Dutch sustainable housing construction. Two questions are answered: which goals regarding the environmental benefits of Dutch sustainable housing construction are currently feasible and what are the most eco-efficient strategies to further improve the environmental performance of housing? Environmental benefits are calculated by means of sets of measures composed by confronting priorities for reduction of the environmental impacts of houses with seven strategies for sustainable housing construction. For the calculations Eco-Quantum is used. A traditionally built terraced house is used as a reference point. It turns out that goals such as `Factor 4¿ or `Factor 20¿ are still far from being achieved and that the prolongation of life spans and improvement of reusability are the most eco-efficient strategies. However, other strategies also need to be applied, because these two strategies carry large uncertainties. Sustainable housing construction may not be enough in itself to meet very high targets. Reflection on our way of living is also required.