Building room for the future

In this project, our aim has been to find new and resource efficient solutions for the energy use in buildings, in line with sustainable development. The solutions have been sought within the interaction between behaviour and the utilization of buildings and its equipment. The focus has been to study how more efficient use of buildings and reduced demand for floor space can decrease the energy demand. A backcasting approach has been used to outline a number of images of the future for 2050. Two alternative paths of development that can contribute to more efficient use of buildings are identified. In the first information technology is used for performing more activities in dwellings. This development reduces the need for premises. This development is the base for the image Sparse The urbanization slows down and more people live in single-family houses in the suburban areas of cities. The Dense image is based on the other path, a more urban lifestyle. Activities in premises become more important and the demand for dwelling floor space decreases. People continue to move into cities. In the cities people live in nodes where the neighbourhood offers offices for telecommuting and a rich supply of services.