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| 2. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Adoption of innovations in building construction : Hindrances and actor influence as perceived by Swedish architects
- 2011
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Ingår i: Energy efficiency first. - : European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE). ; , s. 1133-1140
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A better understanding of general hindrances to the diffusion of innovations in the construction sector may help to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. This study uses a web-based questionnaire to collect information on Swedish architects’ perceptions of hindrances to the adoption of innovations in building construction. The responding architects characterise the Swedish construction industry as having a low level of innovativeness. The most influential hindrances to innovativeness were perceived as the focus on project costs instead of life-cycle costs, the economic risks that innovations imply, the focus on traditional engineering models, the construction industry’s tendency to use proven materials and methods, and contractors’ inability to adjust processes. In terms of the involved actors, construction clients were perceived to have the greatest influence on innovativeness, and stronger cooperation between the architect and construction client was recognised as important to facilitate innovativeness.
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| 3. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Architects’ perception of the innovativeness of the Swedish construction industry
- 2017
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Ingår i: Construction Innovation. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1471-4175 .- 1477-0857. ; 17:2, s. 244-260
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The aim of this paper is to enhance the understanding of architects’ perceptions of the propensityto adopt innovations in building construction.Design/methodology/approach – Based on a theoretical underpinning of the multilevel perspective on socio-technical transitions, a web-based questionnaire (n = 412) was used to empirically investigate Swedish architects’ perceptions of innovativeness in the building construction industry. Specifically, the study looks at perceptions of the level of innovativeness (propensity to adopt innovations), relevant barriers to the adoption of innovations, the influence of different actors and ways of facilitating innovativeness.Findings – Architects perceive a low level of innovativeness in the Swedish building construction industry because of a number of barriers of varying relevance. These barriers belong to interwoven regulative,normative and cognitive rules (i.e. institutions) that guide actor behaviour, which contribute to the path dependency of the industry. The site-specific nature of building construction, promotional activities from suppliers and the level of competition in the industry is perceived as being of little relevance. The findings suggest that a number of interventions are necessary to facilitate innovativeness of the Swedish construction industry. To change the lock-in mechanisms of the established cognitive and normative rules, regulative rulesneed to change as well. According to architects, contractors and construction clients are the most influentialand therefore have the most power to change the rules associated with path dependency.Research limitations/implications – The focus on a single construction professional in Sweden necessitates a discussion on these perceptions from the standpoint of other actors.Practical implications – Architects perceive a need for change in the construction industry and suggestthat changed regulative rules can help overcome path dependency and facilitate innovativeness. Considering the strong interrelatedness of the lock-in mechanisms that guide the actors of the industry, policies may be needed to encourage and support the establishment for more sustainable development.Originality/value – A multilevel perspective is used to analyse the type of barriers to innovativeness that the architects perceive as relevant and how they contribute to the resistance to change and path dependency in the building construction sector.
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| 4. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Contractor Perceptions of Very Energy Efficient New Multi-Story Residential Buildings
- 2014
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Ingår i: World Sustainable Building 2014 Barcelona Conference. - : GBCe. - 9788469718155
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- To facilitate design of policies and strategies which aim to promote a sustainable development of the built environment, a deeper understanding of factors influencing the decisions taken in construction projects is needed. This study investigates Swedish contractors’ perceptions of the new-build of very energy efficiency multi-storey residential buildings (e.g. passive houses). The results of interviews with twenty selected contracts managers disclose several perceived disadvantages and risks associated with such buildings which influence the interest to invest in high energy efficiency. These include several cost and market-related issues as well as issues relating to the performance of the buildings. Without market intervention it seems unlikely that very energy efficient multi-storey residential buildings will diffuse to any substantial degree within the Swedish construction industry.
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| 7. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Perceptions, attitudes and interest of Swedish architects towards the use of wood frames in multi-storey buildings
- 2011
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Ingår i: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-3449 .- 1879-0658. ; 55, s. 1013-1021
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Use of wood frames from sustainable forestry instead of non-wood frames in multi-storey buildings can reduce primary energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in construction. However, construction actors might have different perceptions towards wood frames than towards steel and concrete frames. Such perceptions may influence the actors' decision to adopt wood frames. In this study we use a web-based questionnaire to assess Swedish architects' perceptions, attitudes and interest towards steel, concrete and wood frames in multi-storey buildings (n = 412). Results indicate that the responding architects find concrete the most suitable frame material in buildings of 3-8 storeys, mainly because of the performance of concrete with regards to the engineering aspects (e.g. stability and fire safety) that were considered important in the choice of frame material. Although wood is considered the least suitable frame material, the overall attitude towards, and interest in, using wood is positive and related to the perceived environmental benefits of wood. This may derive from an increased discussion of and information about the environmental impact of buildings. Wood may be perceived as new and innovative while not considered as adequately proven as steel and concrete with regards to engineering aspects.
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| 8. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-
(författare)
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Perceptions of intensive forestry and multi-storey wood frames among Swedish actors
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Implementation of intensive forestry (fertilization, cultivation of non-native tree species, and clone cultivation) on part of the forested land area in Sweden and an increased construction of wood-framed multi-storey buildings can contribute to reduce the net carbon dioxide emissions of the built environment. This thesis evaluates the acceptance of and interest in intensive forestry and multi-storey wood frames among different actors, and some of the underlying reasons for their approach. The results of quantitative and qualitative studies among members of the general public, private forest owners, architects, and contracts managers in Sweden are presented in six different papers. Both intensive forestry and multi-storey wood frames lack sufficient acceptance and compliance with relevant institutions such as priorities, norms, and regulations in the eyes of the studied actors. The acceptance of intensive forestry would be larger among members of the general public if they would perceive such practices to have less negative environmental effects and perceive a greater need to increase forest growth. Among the private forest owners, the interest to cultivate non-native tree species would be larger if there were more positive attitudes towards the economic consequences. Architects and contracts managers associate multistorey wood frames with several disadvantages and uncertainties, primarily with respect to fire safety, stability, durability, and sound proofing. The contracts managers’ perceptions have stronger implications for the prospects for wood frames, than the architects’ perceptions do. Promotional activities aimed to change such perceptions may improve the prospects for more wood framed multi-storey buildings in Sweden. The path dependency of Swedish multi-storey construction however implies that such activities are not enough for multi-storey wood frames to diffuse to greater extent. Broader changes to the wider context of the decisions taken in construction projects, e.g. to policy or economic environments, which change the priorities of the construction industry actors, are needed.
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| 9. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Public perceptions and acceptance of intensive forestry in Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 43:2, s. 196-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of intensive forestry on part of the forested area in Sweden increases the production of forest biomass and enables an increased use of such biomass to mitigate climate change. However, with increasing conflicting interests in forests and forestry, the success of such a strategy depends on the public acceptance. In this paper, the results of a mail survey show that although a majority of the general public in Sweden supports measures to increase forest growth, they oppose the use of intensive forestry practices such as the cultivation of exotic tree species, clones, and forest fertilization. The acceptance of such practices is mainly influenced by the perceptions of their environmental consequences. Public acceptance was highest for forest fertilization, whereas clone cultivation was the least accepted practice.
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| 10. |
- Hemström, Kerstin, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish private forest owners’ perceptions and intentions with respect to adopting exotic tree species
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Journal of Forest Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1612-4669 .- 1612-4677. ; 132:3, s. 433-444
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Swedish forest growth can be increased through intensive forestry practices, enabling an increased use of forest biomass for climate-change mitigation. However, the diffusion of such practices depends on the forest owners’ adoption of them. We study Swedish private forest owners’ perceptions and intentions with respect to increasing forest growth by adopting exotic tree species. The results of a mail-in questionnaire survey show that although a majority of forest owners desire increasing forest growth, most owners have only a basic understanding of exotic tree species and a smaller proportion is interested in adopting them. The intention to adopt exotics seems to depend on the perceived performance of the species with respect to the economic aspects of forest management rather than on environmental or recreational concerns. Whereas a knowledge gap among the private forest owners regarding how to increase forest growth is implied, forest owners with higher self-rated knowledge of forestry and exotics have stronger intentions to adopt such species.
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