Healthy Home – Taking Health into the Design and Use of (Dutch) Dwellings

Abstract

In the coming years, the Dutch construction industry will be faced with a major energy transition. This means that dwellings should be built more sustainable and energy efficient according to the guidelines drawn up by the Dutch government. However, does this transition also include the individual health and comfort aspects of occupants or is there too much focus on achieving the energy-saving guidelines? This research about healthy living shows that a home environment has a great deal of influence on the physical, mental and social conditions of its occupants. Unfortunately, this is negatively influenced by, among other things, limited guidelines from legislation and regulations, the disinterest of the construction sector , and the unhealthy and unpredictable behaviour of residents. Therefore, change is needed in the current way of building as we know it in the Dutch building sector.