Universal housing integrates well with the sustainability movement by connecting goals of environmental ecology with the goals of social ecology or social sustainability. Universal homes result in better physical and mental health and are the starting point for all of us in maintaining our connections to family and community life.
Combining sustainable and Universal Design elements results in a healthier, safer, and inviting environment for all who interact in the home. Current users can enjoy these benefits for longer than a similar home that does not design for human performance characteristics. Homes that are constructed of durable and sustainable materials require less maintenance over the lifetime of the home, which benefits future occupants. Low maintenance also meets the Universal Design goals for ease of use and convenience.
A Universal Design approach also enhances social sustainability because people who live in UD homes can maintain their engagement with family and community life without undertaking costly and disruptive functional renovations. On the sustainable front, minimized modifications save natural resources by avoiding the use of significant amounts of building materials that would otherwise be required by extensive home accessibility modifications.
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