Housing, Home Environment and Sustainability
This domain looks at housing as a physical environment and as a resource: thermal comfort, air quality, moisture control, energy and water use, and the sustainability of the home within a Maltese and Mediterranean context.
Functions and tenure
Housing provides shelter, security, privacy, space for work and study, and a base for social life. Tenure includes owner-occupation, private rental and social housing; affordability and security of tenure affect health and wellbeing.
The indoor environment
- Thermal comfort for sedentary occupants is roughly 18–24 °C with relative humidity 40–60%.
- Condensation occurs when warm, moisture-laden air meets a surface below dew point. It is a ventilation and insulation problem, not automatically 'rising damp'.
- Persistent damp and mould are linked to respiratory symptoms and asthma.
- Ventilation controls CO2, water vapour and VOCs; energy efficiency must not be achieved by sealing a dwelling without adequate ventilation.
Energy, water and waste
- U-values measure heat loss through a building element; lower is better. Energy performance certificates run A–G.
- Maltese specifics: limestone construction, rubble walls, roof insulation and water cisterns; reverse osmosis makes Malta heavily dependent on desalination, so rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse matter.
- Waste: separate collection, bring-in sites and civic amenity sites support the circular economy.
Worked example
A bedroom has mould on the external wall behind a wardrobe. Reasoning: the wardrobe blocks warm air from reaching the cold wall, so the surface falls below dew point and moisture condenses. Remedies follow the cause - move the furniture, increase background ventilation, reduce moisture from drying laundry indoors, insulate the wall, and keep the room at a moderate temperature. Painting over mould without changing ventilation only delays recurrence.
Traps
- Diagnosing all damp as rising damp.
- Recommending draught-proofing everywhere without ventilation provision.
- Confusing energy efficiency (using less for the same service) with energy conservation (doing without).
- Ignoring lifecycle impacts of materials.