Co-Designing Sustainable Communities: The Usage of Local Social Performance Metrics in Native American Sustainable Housing and Renewable

Energy System Designs

Ryan Shelby, Center for Research on Social Change Student Fellow & Alfred P. Sloan Ph.D. Student Scholar University of California, Berkeley, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Introduction
This dissertation research lies at the intersection of engineering, policy, and community based design Goal: creation of a methodological framework that allows engineers and members of Native American nations to understand the social performance metrics in sustainability systems Focus: Renewable Energy & Sustainable Housing

Motivation
The Pinoleville Pomo Nation (PPN) is facing several critical challenges: ~300 members scattered throughout N. CA HUD-financed housing provides basic necessities No representation of the cultural and traditional values of the PPN in HUD housing Concerns about misuse of data and influence by designers (Latent)

Theoretical Foundations
Griffin & Hauser: Eliciting End User Needs/Metrics (1993) Haraway: Situated Knowledges (1987)

Rising heating and cooling costs; Drought conditions Fischer: Environmental Policy & Citizens (2000) Hirschhorn: Experts & Community Engagement (1979)
Knowledge Base 1 Knowledge Base 2 CoDesigned Knowledge Base 3

Fig. 1: Merging Knowledge Bases

Discourse Contribution: Co-Design Methodology

Co-Design methodology used to identify PPN metrics and brainstorm concepts End users are experts on their needs End users and engineers both control ideation Co-designing with end users in usage environment can lead to readily adopted solutions Allows for co-production of knowledge from various knowledge bases
Fig. 2: PPN Explanation of Designs Fig. 3: Co-Designing Pomo Inspired Home

Results: Social Performance Metrics

Identified 23 social performance metrics related to sustainable housing design Identified an additional 18 social performance metrics related to energy system designs Example social performance metrics: Learn and Use Traditional Techniques Energy Conservation Natural Materials Privacy
Fig. 4: Unique Metrics for Sustainable Housing Fig. 5: Percentage of Unique Metrics Overtime

Results: Pomo Inspired Home Design

Rounded structure to represent traditional Pomo homes Strawbale for housing insulation; R-value 60 Skylight for natural lighting and passive heating Solar for power generation; options for wind energy
Fig. 6: Pomo Inspired Home with Roof View Fig. 7: Pomo Inspired Home Inside View

Ground source heat pumps

Discussion & Future Research

Rebound effect with introduction of energy efficient and power generation system Social Life Cycle Assessment of sustainability and renewable energy systems

Environment

Economic Equity
Fig. 8: Brundtland Commissions Sustainability Framework Fig. 9: PPN Sustainability Framework

Marginal Abatement Cost Curve

$/C02e = $/Cultural Sovereignty