AUTOMATION IN SUSTAINABLE HOUSING: A DOUBLE-EDGED APPROACH TO RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
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Abstract
Sustainability in housing is a phrase that has become a norm in the mouths of not just members of the building industry but also of all individuals with a sense of prudence and comfort. The tendency to beg the question “can housing really be sustainable?” Given that a
lot of environmentally unfriendly processes are embarked on to produce the necessary elements used in construction and housing, a lot of work has to be done during the years of the structure
to refund the ecological make up that was lost to create it in the first place. This leads to the need to create residential buildings that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also protect the core for which sustainability stands The growing global concern for environmental sustainability and the increasing strain on natural resources have placed the built environment at the forefront of conversations
surrounding climate resilience, energy efficiency, and responsible envelopment. In Nigeria and many other developing economies, the challenge of creating housing that is environmentally sustainable while remaining economically accessible and socially inclusive has become increasingly urgent. At the same time, advances in digital technology and intelligent building automation are reshaping the possibilities within residential design by offering new mechanisms for improving energy performance, operational efficiency, and occupant comfort. This study explores the intersection between sustainable housing and automated residential systems, critically examining whether automation serves as an innovative tool that enhances sustainability or whether it introduces complexities that threaten affordability, equity, and longterm resilience in the Nigerian context. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data collected through structured questionnaires administered digitally via Google Forms with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with architects, engineers, residential developers, and automation technology practitioners. This methodology provided a comprehensive
understanding of both user experiences and professional perspectives regarding automation and sustainability in the residential sector. The findings reveal that while awareness of sustainable housing principles is growing, adoption is still largely limited due to economic constraints and infrastructural challenges.
Passive environmental design strategies such as natural ventilation, shading, and solar integration are widely recognized as realistic and impactful within the Nigerian climatic and economic context. Conversely, automated systems such as intelligent lighting, energy
monitoring, and adaptive cooling are acknowledged as valuable improvements capable of providing 10–30% performance efficiency; however, they remain accessible primarily to higher-income households due to high installation costs, maintenance requirements, unreliable power supply, and limited technical expertise. The research, therefore, identifies significant barriers to widespread automation adoption and highlights the risk that automation may deepen existing social inequalities if implemented without structural support. Nevertheless, respondents and professionals agree that the most promising pathway forward is a hybrid model that integrates robust passive design principles as the foundation of sustainability, while incorporating selective automation where feasible to optimise performance and long-term building adaptability. The study concludes by recommending policy reform, professional capacity development, public awareness initiatives, and incremental integration frameworks that enable responsible adoption of automated systems without compromising affordability or resilience. The proposed conceptual framework demonstrates how balanced integration can support Nigeria’s pursuit of sustainable, resilient, and future-ready residential environments, contributing to academic discourse and offering practical guidance for architects,
policymakers, and housing developers.
lot of environmentally unfriendly processes are embarked on to produce the necessary elements used in construction and housing, a lot of work has to be done during the years of the structure
to refund the ecological make up that was lost to create it in the first place. This leads to the need to create residential buildings that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also protect the core for which sustainability stands The growing global concern for environmental sustainability and the increasing strain on natural resources have placed the built environment at the forefront of conversations
surrounding climate resilience, energy efficiency, and responsible envelopment. In Nigeria and many other developing economies, the challenge of creating housing that is environmentally sustainable while remaining economically accessible and socially inclusive has become increasingly urgent. At the same time, advances in digital technology and intelligent building automation are reshaping the possibilities within residential design by offering new mechanisms for improving energy performance, operational efficiency, and occupant comfort. This study explores the intersection between sustainable housing and automated residential systems, critically examining whether automation serves as an innovative tool that enhances sustainability or whether it introduces complexities that threaten affordability, equity, and longterm resilience in the Nigerian context. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data collected through structured questionnaires administered digitally via Google Forms with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with architects, engineers, residential developers, and automation technology practitioners. This methodology provided a comprehensive
understanding of both user experiences and professional perspectives regarding automation and sustainability in the residential sector. The findings reveal that while awareness of sustainable housing principles is growing, adoption is still largely limited due to economic constraints and infrastructural challenges.
Passive environmental design strategies such as natural ventilation, shading, and solar integration are widely recognized as realistic and impactful within the Nigerian climatic and economic context. Conversely, automated systems such as intelligent lighting, energy
monitoring, and adaptive cooling are acknowledged as valuable improvements capable of providing 10–30% performance efficiency; however, they remain accessible primarily to higher-income households due to high installation costs, maintenance requirements, unreliable power supply, and limited technical expertise. The research, therefore, identifies significant barriers to widespread automation adoption and highlights the risk that automation may deepen existing social inequalities if implemented without structural support. Nevertheless, respondents and professionals agree that the most promising pathway forward is a hybrid model that integrates robust passive design principles as the foundation of sustainability, while incorporating selective automation where feasible to optimise performance and long-term building adaptability. The study concludes by recommending policy reform, professional capacity development, public awareness initiatives, and incremental integration frameworks that enable responsible adoption of automated systems without compromising affordability or resilience. The proposed conceptual framework demonstrates how balanced integration can support Nigeria’s pursuit of sustainable, resilient, and future-ready residential environments, contributing to academic discourse and offering practical guidance for architects,
policymakers, and housing developers.
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