1. Implementing sustainability in the building industry Marianne Ryghaug and Knut H. Sørensen Department og interdisciplinary studies of culture, NTNU

2. The role of buildings and the building industry with regard to environmental policy In principle, of great importance. Buildings consume a lot of energy and other resources as well as impacting physical and visual landscape In principle, of great importance. Buildings consume a lot of energy and other resources as well as impacting physical and visual landscape In practice, unclear and not very well developed In practice, unclear and not very well developed Also, the building industry is not much analysed and its dynamics is not well understood Also, the building industry is not much analysed and its dynamics is not well understood

3. Aim of our talk Discuss decision making in the building industry with regard to environmental issues Discuss decision making in the building industry with regard to environmental issues Contribute to a better understanding of buildings as socio-technical entities and the shaping processes related to the building industry Contribute to a better understanding of buildings as socio-technical entities and the shaping processes related to the building industry

4. Implementing sustainability in the building industry – initial observations The building industry has been resistant to ideas of sustainability and energy conservation The building industry has been resistant to ideas of sustainability and energy conservation Introduction of new energy technologies, new energy carriers and sustainable design has been difficult Introduction of new energy technologies, new energy carriers and sustainable design has been difficult Macro-political measures have proved inefficient to induce the use of more sustainable designs Macro-political measures have proved inefficient to induce the use of more sustainable designs

5. Challenges Understanding institutional arrangements Understanding institutional arrangements Describing main strategies of different actors in relation to design, development, implementation and use of energy technologies Describing main strategies of different actors in relation to design, development, implementation and use of energy technologies

6. What does implementation mean in relation to sustainability in buildings? Accessibility of knowledge and technology: Research and production does to some extent provide what is needed Accessibility of knowledge and technology: Research and production does to some extent provide what is needed Attractiveness of sustainable solutions: Would they be better? Attractiveness of sustainable solutions: Would they be better? Unclear to building industry actors Unclear to building industry actors Usability: Can users deal with new solutions? Usability: Can users deal with new solutions? A neglected problem A neglected problem

7. The analysis: Case studies related to Sustainable architecture (Ryghaug 2003) Sustainable architecture (Ryghaug 2003) HVAC engineers (Hubak 1998) HVAC engineers (Hubak 1998) Implementation of heat pumps (Næsje 2000) Implementation of heat pumps (Næsje 2000) Implementation of new heating systems in buildings ( Kongsli 2001) Implementation of new heating systems in buildings ( Kongsli 2001) Users of office buildings (Berker and Bye, ongoing) Users of office buildings (Berker and Bye, ongoing) Energy culture in households (Aune 1998) Energy culture in households (Aune 1998) Norwegian energy politics (Aune, Gjøen, Ryghaug, Sørensen, ongoing) Norwegian energy politics (Aune, Gjøen, Ryghaug, Sørensen, ongoing)

8. Who is to blame? Actor-actant areas to be discussed: Users Users Builders Builders Architects Architects Engineers Engineers Contracts Contracts Suppliers/contractors Suppliers/contractors Professional conflicts Professional conflicts

9. The users? Comfort-oriented Comfort-oriented ex: ”The home should be peaceful and cosy, sheltered, warm.. and snug - one shall feel comfortable” (Aune 1998; p. 2003) Indifferent Indifferent

10. The builders? Want to build as cheaply as possible Want to build as cheaply as possible ex: ”The question is, who in the end is going to pay for this. The building owner is not interested in paying energy efficiency investments that is not repaid in max. one and a half year” (Hubak 1998; 138) Risk-aversion Risk-aversion Lack of knowledge about future use and how different designs may affect indoor environment and productivity Lack of knowledge about future use and how different designs may affect indoor environment and productivity

11. The architects? Lack of knowledge Lack of knowledge Want primarily to build according to the dominant aesthetics of the profession Want primarily to build according to the dominant aesthetics of the profession ex1:”To most architects it doesn’t matter if one recycles and stores the heat if the building doesn’t look good” (Ryghaug 2003, p.137) ex2: “architects should be mostly preoccupied with architecture and design” (Ryghaug 2003, p.119)

12. The engineers? Wants to do more sustainable design, but are not enabled Wants to do more sustainable design, but are not enabled Constrained by knowledge, time and economy Constrained by knowledge, time and economy To some extent also constrained by the interaction with other engineers and architects To some extent also constrained by the interaction with other engineers and architects

13. The contract system? The building industry is regulated through a system of legal contracts The building industry is regulated through a system of legal contracts In many construction contracts In many construction contracts all premises given when the contract is signed all premises given when the contract is signed the price of the product is given the price of the product is given no room for extra expenses (new knowledge, technology, time) no room for extra expenses (new knowledge, technology, time) no responsibilities towards environmental aspects no responsibilities towards environmental aspects Consequently, the contract system has a conservative impact Consequently, the contract system has a conservative impact

14. The suppliers/contractors? May not offer new, more sustainable products due to lack of demand May not offer new, more sustainable products due to lack of demand But a source of renewal when old components are replaced by new ones, which demand design changes But a source of renewal when old components are replaced by new ones, which demand design changes

15. Professional conflicts: architects and engineers ” architects are more puritan than most people. If you look at how they dress an incredible large number dress in black and white (…) black and black, white and white and maybe a little bit of grey” “[engineers] have chequered shirts, perhaps a striped neckerchief and an anorak they got during the Olympics with three different colours, brown-greyish trousers and multicoloured trainers. They look awful!” Can they communicate?

16. The Orient Express syndrome All actors/actants share the blame All actors/actants share the blame Who may criticise the others?? Who may criticise the others??

17. Three problematical logics to induce sustainable building Three problematical logics to induce sustainable building The economical logic The economical logic remunerative? remunerative? conservativeness is the cheapest conservativeness is the cheapest The judicial logic The judicial logic liability? liability? conserves the established conserves the established The professional logic The professional logic interest? interest? knowledge? knowledge? communication? communication?

18. Challenges to sustainability in the building industry Short-sighted cost thinking: Short-sighted cost thinking: Building cheaply – why not? Building cheaply – why not? Who can afford to think new? Who can afford to think new? A judicial trap: A judicial trap: A regime of contractual regulation that relieves everyone from blame A regime of contractual regulation that relieves everyone from blame Limited professional perceptions: Limited professional perceptions: Smart, energy efficient – and ugly? Smart, energy efficient – and ugly? Who cares about maintenance? Who cares about maintenance? Sustainability has to be policed