Sufficiency in building and living

Published on 09.08.2023
This knowledge was donated by:
Patrick Zimmermann für ara und BTU
ara – atelier regenerative architecture
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
Curated by Dr. Anna Braune

In addition to efficiency and consistency, sufficiency measures are needed to achieve climate neutrality. This means moving away from "more is more" and towards a moderate, i.e. sufficient use of resources.
With the help of the "Sufficiency evaluation matrix for residential buildings", you can determine and optimise the key sufficiency properties during the planning process. The free download comprises seven subject areas with 23 criteria and 58 indicators. It is supplemented by an overview, which is also available free of charge.

When developing the set of criteria, the focus was on making the assessment and quantification as objective and manageable as possible during the planning process, which is why existing assessment methods from the DGNB and NaWoh certification systems are used in many places. The overview and matrix were created as part of a master's thesis on "Assessability and life cycle assessment influence of sufficiency in building areas", submitted by Patrick Zimmermann at the Technical University of Munich, 2018.

Background knowledge

The pressure to act in the building sector to achieve climate neutrality and other sustainability goals is enormous. So far, efforts in politics, research and practice have focussed on better thermal insulation (efficiency) and the use of renewable energies and renewable raw materials (consistency). However, these purely technical strategies are not enough.

Rebound effects eat away at efficiency and consistency

Rebound effects are one of the factors that reduce the effectiveness of technical strategies. For example, per capita living space [1] has been increasing for decades due to smaller households, more property ownership and the empty nest effect. As the graph below shows, the increased space requirement offsets the savings achieved through efficiency and consistency [2].
In addition, the two technical solution strategies are not being implemented ambitiously enough and the time to massively reduce greenhouse gas emissions is now so pressing that all options must be exhausted.

Space heating requirements in KWh per capita and year: The living space per capita in Germany has been increasing for years (blue line). This makes it more difficult to save heat despite thermal insulation, for example. Source: Wuppertal Institute

Sufficiency relies on behavioural change

Sufficiency comes into play as a complementary addition to technical strategies. It focuses on behavioural changes "that help to stay within the Earth's ecological carrying capacity, while changing the utility aspects of consumption" [3]. The aim is to absolutely minimise the ecological impact while maintaining an appropriate quality of life.

Caution

Purely technical energy-saving strategies are not enough. We have to adapt our demands and our behaviour. And use resources with moderation. The good news: anyone can achieve sufficiency!

For the building sector, "this means above all an appreciative, needs-orientated and environmentally friendly approach to what is available, i.e. space, material and natural resources and existing building fabric" [4].

Decision cascade: preservation before new construction

"This means that there must be a cascade of decisions. In the first stage, this involves maintaining and renewing existing buildings. Only when the objectively proven functional, energy and design requirements can no longer be met in the renovated existing building will it be possible to expand the existing building in a second stage. And only if an extension of the existing building is also unable to fulfil the aforementioned requirements can a new building be the "ultima ratio" in a third stage in the future" [5].

Conclusion

Even if the technical approaches to efficiency and consistency were consistently utilised: This alone will not achieve climate neutrality in the construction sector. It will not be possible without a change in expectations and a greater appreciation of what already exists. Sufficiency does not mean a loss of quality of life, but a change in priorities.

Further information:

Legend
[1] Destatis (2021b): Gesellschaft und Umwelt – Wohnen [2] Wuppertal Institut (2015): Raumwärmebedarf in KWh pro Kopf und Jahr [3] Fischer, C., & Grießhammer, R. (2013): Mehr als nur weniger. Suffizienz: Begriff, Begründung und Potentiale. Öko-Institut Working Paper 2/2013, p. 10. [4] Over, Zimmermann, Brischke (2021): Wie muss man bauen, um suffizientes Wohnen zu ermöglichen? [5] Deutscher Städtetag (2021): Nachhaltiges und suffizientes Bauen in den Städten
Bewertbarkeit und ökobilanzieller Einfluss von Suffizienz im Gebäudebereich
Master’s thesis by Patrick Zimmermann
Webinar: Sufficiency
Architects for Future Published on 6 December 2020
26. Interdisziplinäre Wissenschaftliche Konferenz Mittweida, 2021:
Wie muss man bauen, um suffizientes Wohnen zu ermöglichen? Over, Zimmermann, Brischke (2021)
Video: “Wie muss man bauen, um suffizientes Wohnen zu ermöglichen?”
Lecture at the 26th Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference Mittweida, 2021
Nachhaltiges und suffizientes Bauen in den Städten
Source: Deutscher Städtetag; published 2021
Flächensparend Wohnen
Publication by Umweltbundesamt: Energieeinsparung durch Suffizienzpolitiken im Handlungsfeld „Wohnfläche“. Published 2019
Forschungsprojekt SuPraStadt
Quality of life, participation and resource conservation through social diffusion of sufficiency practices in urban neighbourhoods
Forschungsprojekt OptiWohn
Solving the urban housing shortage is a social issue, as the distribution of housing in our cities has become unbalanced. But architecture and urban planning are also facing major challenges due to the immense pressure on cities. The built city must be rethought and remodelled if cities are to develop in a resource-efficient way. The OptiWohn project addresses these issues.
Forschungsprojekt LebensRäume
A project by Öko-Institut e.V.; Institut für angewandte Ökologie

This knowledge was donated by:

Patrick Zimmermann
This sufficiency assessment matrix for residential buildings was developed by Patrick Zimmermann during his master's thesis in the M. Sc. Energy Efficient and Sustainable Building programme at the Technical University of Munich. The ara - atelier regenerative architecture (Department of Design and Energy Efficient Building, Prof. Dr-Ing Susan Draeger), Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) is involved in research and teaching on regenerative buildings and settlement structures. These go beyond the level of a building planned according to sustainable criteria by improving our environment. They are integrated into the natural environment and designed in such a way that they can restore damaged ecosystems. The atelier regenerative architecture works with students to explore the questions of how regenerative design can be realised and how change can be achieved.


Please send contact enquiries to:
Mail: patrick.zimmermann@b-tu.de
Web: https://www.b-tu.de/fg-entwerfen-energieeffizientes-bauen/