Purpose / Context – Political topics like energy efficiency and climate protection are en vogue. There are manifold funding programmes, but since these are bound to the goals of the respective programmes, the implemented projects do not adequately consider integrative aspects. It is necessary to analyse the purpose of those funding programs and to bring...

Purpose / Context - As the emerging digital technology, Building Information Modelling has been applied in the multidisciplinary design work for sustainable houses. This study aims to input the real-world design context into the BIM pedagogy and to demonstrate the capacity of BIM in enhancing teamwork in the cross-disciplinary collaboration. Methodology / Approach – A...

This is a study of an energy retrofit program for the homes of low-income, elderly or frail householders in Victoria, Australia. Warmth, heating energy consumption and householder satisfaction are discussed. These cases highlighted how the interaction of the material quality of the home, householder capabilities and the meaning of heating shaped the changes in warmth...

Purpose / Context - The aim of this study was to determine whether the quality of the indoor ther-mal environment during winter could increase the risk of cerebrovascular disease. Methodology / Approach - An epidemiological survey of approximately 200 elderly persons living in a cold climatic region of Japan was conducted. The survey was divided...

Purpose / Context - New detached houses have been getting larger in New Zealand for several decades. Large houses require more materials to build, and have greater ongoing energy costs than smaller houses built to the same standard. The purpose of this work was to examine whether larger houses are as efficient at accommodating people...