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The construction and operation of buildings is characterized by resource intensity in the form of massive consumption of raw materials and products, large financial and human labor expenditures, energy consumption, water consumption, long term, and significant environmental impacts, especially during their use. The currently implemented concept of sustainable development and circular economy influences the directions of development of construction industry and increases interest in self-sufficient buildings, especially in terms of energy, use of closed water circuits, use of waste materials. The aim of the article is to analyse the key determinants for the development of autonomous buildings. The general idea is that an autonomous building is designed to function without the support and services provided by public facilities, such as power, water, gas and sewage networks, waste management, and even the provision of food. On the basis of literature analysis and expert interviews, the factors characterizing this type of construction were determined. Their analysis by means of the DEMATEL method allowed to assess and indicate the most significant cause-and effect relationships conditioning the development of autonomous buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a general technical characteristics of autonomous buildings - earthship, an analysis of the results of surveys of the public's knowledge and perception of this construction technology compared to the studies presented in the literature, and the development of a SWOT matrix and its analysis in the context of the development and dissemination of the construction of autonomous buildings. The results show that this idea, in light of its drawbacks and the threats in the surroundings, is not able to gain a large number of customers and survive in its classical form. However, it was found that this technology is a possibility for proponents of living in harmony with nature and unusual architectural and technological solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the research which investigates the thermal performance of Earthship, an autonomous, earth-sheltered housing concept that claims to require no active heating or cooling systems despite extreme climatic conditions. This research aims to test these claims through monitoring and thermal simulations. The study involves monitoring the indoor conditions in an Earthship home in New Mexico, USA and uses the measured data to calibrate a computer model used to simulate the thermal performance of the home for further analyses. The second part of the study compares Earthship thermal performance located in a temperate climate in Australia with that of buildings incorporating different wall construction materials such as strawbale, rammed earth, and brick veneer. Results from both these studies substantiate the claims. The effect of including a greenhouse, earth berm, and internal wall material is also explored and quantified. The paper concludes with a discussion of the scope for reducing home energy use through the use of Earthship design principles and construction methods and the viability for building these houses in the Australian suburbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term policy issues are a particularly vexing class of environmental policy issues which merit increasing attention due to the long-time horizons involved, the incongruity with political cycles, and the challenges for collective action. Following the definition of long-term environmental policy challenges, I pose three questions as challenges for future research, namely 1. Are present democracies well suited to cope with long-term policy challenges? 2. Are top-down or bottom-up solutions to long-term environmental policy challenges advisable? 3. Will mitigation and adaptation of environmental challenges suffice? In concluding, the contribution raises the issue of credible commitment for long-term policy issues and potential design options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]