A Value Function for Assessing Sustainability: Application to Industrial Buildings

Bibiana Alarcon, Antonio Aguado, Resmundo Manga and Alejandro Josa
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Bibiana Alarcon: Department of Construction Engineering, School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB), Technical University of Catalonia-BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1–3, Building C1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Antonio Aguado: Department of Construction Engineering, School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB), Technical University of Catalonia-BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1–3, Building C1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Resmundo Manga: Department of Construction Engineering, School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB), Technical University of Catalonia-BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1–3, Building C1, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Alejandro Josa: Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB), Technical University of Catalonia-BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1–3, Building D2, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2010, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Decision support tools based on multi-attribute analysis involve the use of different types of variables. These variables are aimed at providing a framework that allows preferences to be quantified. This is particularly useful in the field of sustainability, where variables with different units are involved. One widely accepted framework for standardizing different units is the value function. Studies of value function are complex and frequently have limited physical meaning. In this context, this paper emphasizes the need to define a general equation that reflects the preferences of the decision maker in a clear and easily applied way. The paper proposes a new general equation that fulfils these requirements. By modifying certain parameters, this general equation represents the most commonly used relationships (linear, convex, concave and S-shaped). The proposed equation is finally applied to four variables used in the field of industrial buildings and sustainability.

Keywords: value function; decision making; multi-attribute analysis; industrial building; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:3:y:2010:i:1:p:35-50:d:10719

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