Taking the LEED: Exploring environmental behaviors and identities of residents of green multifamily housing
Silkes, Liora R.
2019
- This study explores the intersection of three previously separate research topics ― the relationships between environmental knowledge, identity, and behavior; the influence of economic status on environmentalism; and the benefits of green multifamily housing. The interaction between these concepts is important because of current trends in both the market-rate and affordable housing sectors ... read moretoward sustainable building practices, and little is known about whether environmentalists seek out green housing and/or if green housing increases residents’ environmentalism. Through a survey of 120 residents of green-certified multifamily housing in the Boston area, this study found residents show similar relationships between environmental knowledge, identity, and behavior as previously studied general populations, and that income is positively correlated with environmental identity but not behavior. As for housing, residents are not extremely knowledgeable of but still identify with the green features of their buildings, especially residents of market-rate buildings. Such features are not the most prevalent factor in residents’ decision to live in their current apartment, though. These findings suggest that the continued market-driven and government-incentivized trends in green building are beneficial as a way of making sustainability the status quo for housing and indirectly encouraging environmental behavior for all.read less
- ID:
- cz30q558p
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
