Research in the International Journal of Global Energy Issues sheds a green light on an innovative approach to addressing the design challenges faced by care facilities for older people amidst societal ageing and growing environmental concerns. The work, from Yi Wu from the School of Urban Construction Engineering at Chongqing Technology and Business Institute in Chongqing, China, focuses on incorporating green technologies into the interior environments of senior care buildings to improve both the well-being of the residents and boost energy efficiency.
Wu has undertaken detailed demographic projections and noise level measurements across different locations and her analysis of the data demonstrates how significant enhancement in overall energy efficiency might be made.
As the global population “ages”, there are increasing challenges that face society worldwide. Wu points out that Western developed nations have long grappled with their ageing populations, countries such as China are now facing similar issues due to rapid demographic shifts driven by economic and societal change.
Elderly care buildings, including senior apartments and nursing homes, are essential in meeting the diverse needs of an ageing population, encompassing psychological, physiological, and behavioural aspects. However, amid concerns over resource depletion and environmental degradation, improving the energy efficiency of such homes is becoming increasingly important. Green technologies offer a practical approach to addressing energy consumption and pollution concerns simultaneously. The development of elderly care infrastructure requires not only innovative architectural designs but also supportive national policies and public engagement to improve such housing. Wu suggests that policy measures should include setting realistic development targets, refining regulations, conducting quality assessments, and establishing industry frameworks is critical.
There is an opportunity where the integration of environmental sustainability and elderly care infrastructure is met. By embracing green technologies and implementing supportive policies, societies can create more resilient and inclusive environments for their ageing populations and hopefully mitigate the environmental impact of the changing demographic. Collaborative efforts across different sectors are now needed to address the challenges sustainably.
Wu, Y. (2024) ‘Indoor environment design of old-age green buildings based on environmental energy efficiency’, Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 46, Nos. 3/4, pp.327–344.