Mihyun Kang

Sustainable Characteristics of Earthbag Housing

Abstract The purpose of this study was to promote the awareness of the earthbag building system, while calling attention to its sustainable properties. Although the earthbag building system allows for the construction of affordable and sustainable housing, it is not widely known and its sustainable characteristics have, therefore, gone unrecognized throughout the home building industry. A case study was conducted for this research. A private earthbag residence located in Crestone, Colorado, was selected based upon the builders experience and expertise in the earthbag building system. Interviews were conducted to acquire insight into the construction methods and materials used for the earthbag building system. Sustainable characteristics were assessed using criteria set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Home program that intends to transform traditional home building practices into those that are more sustainable. By studying an existing earthbag residence in conjunction with the USGBC LEED Home program, it was possible to promote the awareness of the sustainable properties of the earthbag building system. This knowledge has implications throughout the housing industry, allowing for the construction of affordable and sustainable homes.

Older Adults’ Motivations and Expectations Toward Senior Cohousing in a Rural Community

Abstract Senior Cohousing is a type of cohousing that specifically focuses on adults aged 55 or older by accommodating varying levels of physical abilities as well as varying levels of financial status (The Cohousing Association of the United States, 2010). The purpose of this study was to examine older adults’ motivations and expectations toward Senior Cohousing in a rural community. Environmental assessments were conducted in the current houses of older adults who had decided to move into Senior Cohousing in a rural Midwestern town, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the same individuals. The interview transcripts were coded and analyzed inductively by three researchers who then reached consensus on the emerging themes. The most common themes related to the motivations to move into Senior Cohousing were community, autonomy, and downsizing. Regarding older adults’ expectations for environmental factors, respondents expected an area for conversation, natural light and a view to the outdoors, neutral color, and energy efficiency for their living environment. This study provided insights into the views of participants in a rural Midwestern community toward Senior Cohousing as a new option for a senior living environment.

Active Aging for L.i.f.e.: An Intergenerational Public Health Initiative Addressing Perceptions and Behaviors Around Longevity, Independence, Fitness, and Engagement

Objective: Active aging involves staying engaged in life in a number of ways, including maintaining independence, physical and mental fitness, and social engagement. This investigation highlights Active Aging for L.I.F.E., an intergenerational pilot health initiative developed and implemented in the state of Oklahoma. Subject and Methods: Program participants included college students 18 to 25 years of age (n = 20) and older adults older than 65 years (n = 23) who attended a 4-part speaker series focused on the domains of longevity, independence, fitness, and engagement and participated in a pre-/postsurvey. Results: College-aged students reported greater changes in their perception of an individuals role in the aging process than the older adults, and differences between genders were also identified. This pilot determined that attitudes about active aging can be changed through education for both college-aged students and older adults.

Augmenting space: Enhancing health, safety, and well-being of older adults through hybrid spaces

BACKGROUND: As the older adult population in the U.S. continues to grow, it has become a priority to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of these individuals while maintaining their dignity and autonomy. OBJECTIVE: Memory loss and physical impairments have been identified as factors that restrict older adults from living independently. The objectives were (1) to develop a hybrid space within the participants’ living environments using an Augmented Reality object location and information system based on visual and spatial organization and (2) to assess the users’ perceptions of using such technology. METHOD: Three older adults who had a physical impairment and also suffered mild memory loss participated in the study. These three individuals were provided with the mobile system, and their subjective responses were documented through interviews and a questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of the study suggest that participants found the system very useful and easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that the older adults who took part in the study were very open to the idea of using such an AR object location and information system based on visual and spatial organization hosted on electronic mobile devices to enhance their living environments.

An analysis of energy and cost saving opportunities: Lighting system considerations for an institutional food service facility

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate and document existing lighting systems and lighting levels, to compare findings to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) lighting standards (Rodgers, 1998) and to make lighting recommendation for energy and cost savings. Design/methodology/approach Lighting examinations and field measurements were conducted at a large, existing Midwestern institutional food-service facility that has been continuously operational since 1976. Lighting levels of the dining room, checkout line, buffet, kitchen, storage room and conference room were measured and then compared to the IES lighting standards. Recommendations were then made for energy and cost savings. Findings The average light levels in the dining room, checkout line, buffet, storage room and conference room exceeded the industry-recommended light levels. The energy and cost savings were calculated for this study, and the energy- and cost-saving strategies recommended included delamping, replacing lamps and luminaires and installing occupancy sensors. If existing lighting can be updated in an energy- and cost-saving manner, institutional food-service facilities might be made appropriate through renovation, thus extending the life of these facilities. Practical implications This study has practical implications for the many existing institutional food service facilities in workplaces across the USA that could save energy and costs through renovated lighting systems. Originality/value This research constitutes an in situ case study, which gathered empirical lighting data at an existing institutional food-service facility and made recommendations for lighting renovations. Although lighting systems influence dining and kitchen environments, lighting has not always been fully considered in institutional food-service facilities.

Place attachment and design features in a rural senior cohousing community

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the design features that assist residents of a rural senior cohousing community with enhancement of place attachment. Participants for this study were recruited through purposive sampling. A total of 10 older adults, ages 60s to 80s, had resided for 6 months or more at a Midwestern senior cohousing community established in 2012. Data was collected through visual research methods, photo-elicitation, and interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and organized with the computer software NVIVO. Content analysis revealed themes that were categorized using the five dimensions of place attachment (place dependence, place identity, friend bonding, family bonding, and nature bonding). The findings showed that friend bonding and nature bonding were the most dominant dimensions, while family bonding was the least. Friend bonding was promoted with design features for spontaneous, proposed, and organized interaction. Nature bonding was enhanced by design features that allow connection and interaction with nature. Design features related to autonomy and transition were related to place dependence. Design features that enable personalization and connection to the past helped place identity. Family bonding was connected to policies that allow for family, rather than to the physical environment.