THE KEY-COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DESIGN FOR AUSTRALIAN SMALL SIZE HOUSING

Abstract

The building industry has a substantial potential for short-run and cost-effective greenhouse
gases emission mitigation with long-term positive sustainability impacts. There are, however, a variety of
human-based barriers, detracting from the leverage of the mitigation plans in this industry. The impacts of
human-based factors are especially critical in the small size residential buildings, whereby a wide range of
stakeholders plays serious roles in the housing development. In Australia, one critical human-based factor in
the residential sector is the occupants’ preferences, increasing substantially diversity and complexity of the
dwelling units’ physical characteristics. This paper intends to explain the role of feasibility assessment and
design process in improving the energy performance of the Australian residential sector. Accordingly, an
overview of the Australian housing characteristics assists in addressing the key characteristics of the
Australian housing preferences. The analyses show that typological monotony, high range of owneroccupied housing, alongside occupants’ affordability are a number of characteristics of the Australian
housing, which facilitate the implementation of housing efficiency plans in the early stages of housing
provision. Some other characteristics, e.g. floor area, number of bedrooms, and number of people per
dwelling units are some inefficient housing preferences, stressing the significant role of designers in
encouraging the residents toward efficient choice behaviors. Accordingly, the design process has the
potential to impact the energy demands of Australian housing through Housing-Resident Fit, by the
implementing the key components of sustainable housing design, impacting the occupants’ preferences, and
simplifying their domestic activities.