Tennakoon, G A; Waidyasekara, A and Ekanayake, B J (2020) Revisiting the role of professionals in designing buildings with low embodied and operational energy. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 10(1), pp. 110-123. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: Many studies have focused on embodied energy (EE) and operational energy (OE), but a shortage of studies on decision making, which involves several decision makers whose decisions can affect the energy performance of buildings, is evident. From the stages of the project life cycle, the design stage is identified as the ideal stage for integrating energy efficiency into buildings. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to revisit the role of professionals in designing energy-conscious buildings with low EE and OE. Design/methodology/approach: This study administered a qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews only with 12 experts, due to the lack of expertise in the subject matter. The data were analyzed using manual content analysis. Findings: The outcomes revealed the necessity to revisit the role of construction professionals in terms of adopting energy-efficient building design concepts from the project outset. The roles of the key professional groups (i.e. architects, structural engineers, services engineers and quantity surveyors) were identified through this research. Common issues in designing energy-efficient buildings and the means of addressing such problems were outlined. Originality/value: This study contributes to the knowledge by revisiting the roles of construction professionals and proposing how they could leverage their strengths to play the important role and contribute collectively to design buildings with both low OE and EE.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction professionals; design stage; embodied energy; energy efficiency; operational energy; roles |
| Index terms: | energy efficiency, interview, quantity surveying, services engineer, life cycle, qualitative approach, content analysis, architect, design stage, decision-making, methodology, construction professional, structural engineer, embodied energy, energy-efficient building, energy performance |
| Subjects: | sustainability and energy, data analysis and analytics, energy systems, professional practice, profession, data collection methods, value management, decision analysis, research methods, sustainable design, professional development |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Sustainability, Information Management, Project Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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