Eker, S; Zimmermann, N; Carnohan, S and Davies, M (2018) Participatory system dynamics modelling for housing, energy and wellbeing interactions. Building Research & Information, 46(7), pp. 738-754. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
The built environment is a key target of decarbonization policies. However, such policies often have a narrow objective and narrow focus, resulting in 'policy-resistance' and unintended consequences. The literature attributes these unintended consequences to a narrow financial focus, adverse incentives, and inadequate handling of knowledge, skills, communication and feedback gaps, but it provides little advice on how these complex interactions can be captured. This paper illustrates the development and application of an integrated approach to address these complex interactions with regard to housing performance, energy, communal spaces and wellbeing. In particular, it explores the dynamics created by these relationships with simulation modelling in participatory settings, and with a diverse group of stakeholders. The simulation results suggest that monitoring is key to improve the performance of the housing stock besides energy efficiency; and investments in communal spaces positively affect the adoption of energy-efficiency measures and the wellbeing of residents. The evaluation results for participatory workshops show this approach was found useful by the stakeholders for supporting more integrated decision-making about housing. In future research, this approach can be implemented for policy problems in specific contexts.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | energy efficiency; housing policy; public policy; simulation modelling; stakeholder participation; system dynamics; wellbeing |
| Index terms: | workshop, efficiency, energy efficiency, housing policy, built environment, simulation modelling, dynamics, monitoring, modelling, interaction, stakeholder participation, unintended consequence, integrated approach, housing performance, housing stock, well-being, decision-making, system dynamics, housing, public policy |
| Subjects: | risk assessment, construction type, mental health and wellbeing, control systems, computing systems, community and social dimensions, sustainability and energy, public policy, contractual arrangements, economic analysis, analytical methods, performance management, decision analysis, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, systems engineering, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Procurement, Construction Technology, Governance, Sustainability, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Site Management, Quality Management, Urban Studies, Digital Applications |
| 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