Sustainable Urban Housing

Abstract

Housing is a basic need for every person. The concept of sustainability is widely known as it focused on three pillars which are social, economic and environment. To accomplish the goal, housing sector could play an important role as it has significant impact to all those three dimensions. Housing represents one of the main areas of expenditure in Indian society. Affordable and decent housing continues to constitute an essential part of the quality of life. Many aspects of housing and urban issues are related to the broad concept of sustainability, which can be addressed from various angles. Sustainable urban communities are based on an approach that links economic, social and environmental issues and solutions. They are designed to be socially and economically viable, environmentally sustainable and equitable places. This challenging framework requires taking into consideration not only the needs of people facing difficulties to find decent and affordable residences on the general housing market, but also to meet the environmental requirements. The present thesis focuses on the approach and experience in supporting sustainable housing and urban development. It also offers a brief overview of future trends and needs, widely examined in the study, affecting housing markets and shaping demand for housing and urban infrastructure. Finally, the case study provides some reflections on housing activities in the coming years, with particular attention being paid to the residential sector as a potential vector of environmental sustainability through improvements in energy efficiency. This whole society is ultimately created on the basis of three important techniques i.e. 3R Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and so is this study.

Introduction

Housing is a fundamental social condition that impacts quality of life, health, security, and well-being. Its design, location, and integration into social and environmental systems make it a central component of sustainable development. Housing must be considered beyond mere shelter—it should contribute to the social, economic, and environmental health of communities.

2. Evolving Role of Housing:
Modern housing must address issues such as slum prevention, urban inequality, economic development, and climate change. The concept of sustainable housing integrates environmental efficiency with affordability, cultural relevance, and social inclusivity.

3. Challenges in Developing Countries:
Many "affordable" housing projects provide poor-quality dwellings in isolated areas, often ignoring residents' socio-economic needs and environmental impact. Housing is frequently treated as a social cost rather than a development opportunity.

2. Objectives of Sustainable Housing:

The goal is to promote holistic, integrated housing policies that go beyond “green” metrics (like energy efficiency) to include affordability, health, social equity, and cultural relevance. Sustainable housing should:

• Be affordable across income levels.

• Be resilient to natural disasters.

• Minimize environmental impact.

• Support access to jobs, services, and education.

• Foster strong community and social integration.

A genuinely sustainable house is not just eco-friendly but also socially and economically viable.

3. Characteristics of Sustainable Buildings:

A. A Sustainable Building:

• Respects local culture, climate, and tradition.

• Conserves resources and minimizes hazardous materials.

• Protects both local and global ecosystems through its lifecycle.

B. A Sustainable House:

• Is healthy, durable, secure, and safe.

• Is affordable and made from low-energy materials.

• Is connected to clean energy, water, sanitation, and recycling systems.

• Is energy- and water-efficient, and often uses renewable sources.

• Supports residents’ well-being and connects them to essential services.

• Is well-maintained and adaptable over time.

4. Methodology and References:

The study draws on frameworks and policies from various global organizations (e.g., UN-Habitat, EU, IEA, CONAVI Mexico) to build a foundation for sustainable housing in developing countries. These sources advocate for energy-efficient building codes, social sustainability, and appropriate material use.

5. Case Study: Telangana, India

Location: Rangareddy district, Telangana
Area: 7,493 km² (29.78% rural population)
Climate: Low rainfall (781.5 mm/year), moderate winds, mixed terrain, and sparse forests.

Interventions:

• Rainwater Harvesting: Implemented in stages—collection, distribution, and storage.

• Solar Energy System:

  • 5 kW system

  • Covers 50 sqm roof area

  • Cost: ~Rs. 1,85,650

  • Annual output: 7.5 MWh

  • Annual household consumption: ~1.92 MWh

Net Metering Benefits:

• Cuts energy bills significantly.

• Reduces stress on electrical infrastructure.

• Minimizes transmission losses.

Conclusion

1) Sustainable housing provides a healthy safe environment to occupants. 2) It conserves energy minimizes CO2 emission, also produces less waste. 3) We had tried to break the myth that sustainability always costs more. Effective treatment of grey water that can be used for gardening, flushing, etc. 4) Harvesting rainwater in order to reduce deal with water scarcity in dry period. 5) Effective cooling system that provides air conditioning similar to that provided by an electric air conditioner. 6) Passive design which increases internal air flow and provides sufficient ambient light. 7) Solar panels help to produce necessary amount of electricity for household purposes.

References

[1] CONAVI (2011) Sustainable housing in Mexico: Mexico’s National Housing Commission (CONAVI), available: [http://www.conavi.gob.mx/viviendasustentable], accessed in May 2012 [2] EU (2004) ‘Urban Design for Sustainability. Final Report of the Working Group on Urban Design for Sustainability to the European Union Expert Group on the Urban Environment’, EU Expert Group on Urban Design for Sustainability, available: [http:// ec.europa.eu/environment/urban/ pdf/0404final_report.pdf] [3] Laustsen, J. (2008) Energy Efficiency Requirements in Building Codes, Energy Efficiency Policies for New Buildings: IEA Information Paper. Paris: International Energy Agency (IEA) [4] Hendler, P. and Thompson-Smeddle, L. (2009) ‘Sustainable housing’. In L. Thompson-Smeddle (ed.), Sustainable Neighbourhood Design Manual: Available at http://www. sustainabledevelopmentnetwork. com/manuals.php.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mrs. Tekulapally Sujatha. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.