Housing — the Basic Principle of Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

Housing has been, is and will be a fundamental principle in the development of human society; a need of every human being. Housing construction belongs to a key segment of construction and the economy in all countries of the world. Housing consumes a large part of energy resources, which leads to a deterioration of the environment. European legislation implements directives and legal regulations into the legislation of EU member states. The implementation of this legislation can be seen not only positives, but also negatives that have an impact on investment housing construction. Over the last 20 years, our view regarding energy savings and heat protection, renewable energy sources, healthy living, and the issue of CO₂ emissions has fundamentally changed.

Factors of more economical housing categories gradually leads to a larger share of so-called island housing, which will affect primary energy production by 2050. However, island housing needs to be understood as a philosophy, an idea shared by society. At present, it is clear that this idea is not always accepted positively and often brings a number of specific problems to cities and municipalities.

New materials and technological processes do not always lead to the quality of the indoor microclimate. We encounter the syndrome of sick residential buildings more and more often. The World Health Organization calls on municipalities to place great emphasis on promoting healthy living and an indoor microclimate.

In other countries of the world, the issue of housing is also very broad. On the one hand, we encounter the principles of sustainability, a healthy lifestyle, the quality of energy solutions, representative houses; on the other hand, we encounter the poor and economic inaccessibility of quality housing. Living in slums and shacks is often an integral part of the lives of thousands of people. UNESCO calls for the availability of housing for all social groups. The strategy in this area is supported by the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development programming document.

It is obvious that the issue of housing is quite broad. It is, therefore, necessary to focus on this area, to bring new scientific knowledge, innovations and studies. Housing will require the introduction of new technological, material, constructional and architectural rules, the main goal of which will be to contribute to a healthy environment, the principles of sustainable construction and sustainable development, and the social conditions for the availability of quality housing.

Thematic areas:

Housing as part of sustainable development;

Sustainable construction, technology, material;

Reduction of energy intensity;

Social aspects of housing, affordability of housing;

Healthy living;

Adaptation of residential buildings due to climate change (modernization, reconstruction).

The purpose of the Special Issue is to present new scientific results in the field of housing, to develop a scientific view of housing in the conditions of the 21^st century. The issue is related to other literary sources, such as energy, construction, reconstruction, environment, and social aspects. The scope of the issue assumes the publication of professional contributions, studies, and examples from professional practice.

Prof. Dr. Darja Kubečková
Dr. Michal Kraus
Guest Editors

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• sustainability
• housing
• technology
• material
• energy
• construction and architecture
• social aspects
• health and living