McElroy, L B (2009) Embedding integrated building performance assessment in design practice. PhD thesis, University of Strathclyde, UK.
Abstract
This thesis relates to a number of connected initiatives, which over a 20 plus year period assisted design professionals to transfer building energy and environmental simulation technologies from the domain of specialists to routine use in practice. It is written in the context of worldwide concerns relating to climate change, energy profligacy and depleting reserves of finite resources, from fossil fuels to materials, and associated legislative measures relating to the environmental impact of the construction industry. The research conjectured and tested mechanisms, including performance assessment methods, quality assurance procedures and knowledge transfer, in order to encourage and support the uptake of simulation in design practice and to progress the embedding of the technology as a routine design process activity in Scottish energy sector and construction businesses. By assisting the uptake of simulation within the professions, the reported work has allowed construction sector businesses to transform existing work practices and in the process to make a significant, measurable contribution to carbon reduction targets over the last 20 years. Moreover, the work illustrates how the creation of support networks and an integrated, partnership approach between academia and practice can break down barriers to use in practices and increase the effectiveness of the transfer of new technologies resulting in cumulative positive environmental impacts that go significantly beyond the benefits of individual interventions. This conclusion is borne out by independent monitoring of the reported activities.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change; design process; environmental impact; fossil fuel; materials; partnership; quality assurance; simulation |
| Index terms: | partnership, carbon reduction, new technology, design practice, performance assessment, energy sector, construction industry, fossil fuel, effectiveness, academia, profession, monitoring, quality assurance, building performance, routine, design process, climate change, construction sector, environmental impact, knowledge transfer, work practice |
| Subjects: | energy systems, innovation and technology management, environmental impact, institututions, design methods, control systems, climate science, research dissemination and communication, industry analysis, quality assurance, partnership management, educational institutions, sociology, assessment methods, design process, management, performance management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Education, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Site Management, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here