Towards Active Buildings: Stakeholder Perceptions of the Next Generation of Buildings

Elli Nikolaidou (), Ian Walker, David Coley, Stephen Allen, Daniel Fosas and Matthew Roberts
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Elli Nikolaidou: Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Ian Walker: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
David Coley: Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Stephen Allen: Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Daniel Fosas: School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, UK
Matthew Roberts: Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: Several regulations and standards have been developed to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, but these have failed to provide a clear pathway to a net zero future. Hence, we recently introduced the Active Building Code (ABCode). This provides guidance on reducing the environmental impact of the next generation of buildings, termed Active Buildings (ABs), through their synergy with the grid. This paper aims to illuminate the regulatory landscape, justify our initial proposal for the ABCode, and reveal opportunities and challenges to the popularisation of ABs. Twelve online focus group discussions were conducted, with thirty stakeholders in total, all selected on the basis of their expertise. A grounded theory approach identified five core themes in such discussions. These strongly overlap with what is incorporated in the ABCode, suggesting the code successfully captures issues important to experts. Stakeholders defined ABs as responsive buildings and proposed both energy and carbon are considered in their assessment. They hence aligned with the definition and evaluation framework proposed by the ABCode. Finally, stakeholders considered people’s tendency to prioritise capital cost as the greatest challenge to the popularisation of ABs, and the increasing demand for healthy environments as its greatest opportunity.

Keywords: active buildings; decarbonisation; stakeholder engagement; focus groups; grounded theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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