| 1. |
- Andelin, Mia, et al.
(författare)
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Current Sustainability Reporting Practices in Nordic Real Estate Companies
- 2013
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Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 19TH ANNUAL PACIFIC-RIM REAL ESTATE SOCIETY CONFERENCE MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA, 13-16 JANUARY 2013.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sustainability reporting has become both a necessity and a potential competitive advantage for many contemporary corporations. However, unlike many industrial operators, real estate owners and investors have not yet seen the need tofollow or report their environmental performance on any large scale. This lack of pro-activeness is both peculiar and problematic considering that the built environment is responsible for a significant share of global resource use, such as energy and water consumption. With respect to climate change, the built environment is a huge contributor with over one third of global annual emissions. In the light of this knowledge, this study approaches the world of sustainability reporting from the perspective of real estate investors and owners. The aim of the study is examine what and in what extent investors and owners are reporting at the moment. It is also examined what reporting guidelines the reports are following and in what manner the reports are covering the triple bottom line of sustainability. Based on the commonlyaccepted definition of the triple bottom line, the reporting should cover not only environmental, but also social, and even economic performance with regard to building use. Additionally, potential reasons for the current unwillingnessand problem situations of the investors and owners to measure and report their activities are explored via interviews and data reviews. This study will give an understanding of the current situation and the findings are expected toindicate the strengths and weaknesses of the reporting. It is expected that these results will indicate how the reporting should be developed to achieve competitive advantage for the investor or owner by acting pro-actively instead of onlyreporting what has happened. The topic is important as sustainable development and corporate responsibility are coming more essential due the climate change and recent global crises. It can be expected that the findings will also be applicable to other business areas.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Heinonen, Jukka, et al.
(författare)
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An Empirical Inquiry on the Effect of Cleaner Local Energy Production on Consumer Carbon Footprint
- 2012
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Ingår i: Design for Innovative Value Towards a Sustainable Society. - Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands. - 9789400730106 ; , s. 160-164
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study analyzes the effect of cleaner local energy production on the consumer carbon footprint. The results in consumption based carbon footprint assessments have traditionally indicated that a significant change in consumption patterns or lifestyles would be needed to achieve the often aspired, ambitious 50- 80% cutoffs in the carbon emissions on a community level. However, it is also known that a majority of the emissions related to all goods and services derives from energy. Thus cleaner local energy would not affect only the emissions from housing in the consumer carbon footprint but also the carbon load from the consumption of goods and services produced with the same energy.
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| 4. |
- Heinonen, Jukka, et al.
(författare)
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City level carbon mitigation strategies : What are their true impacts?
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development. - 2093-761X. ; 3:1, s. 54-59
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper addresses the problems associated with ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emission cut-off targets set for cities in recent years. Even though many cities have adopted an active approach to sustainability issues and climate change mitigation, they often lack appropriate and effective tools for achieving the cut-off targets. The primary purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utilisation of a consumption based GHG emission assessment model in city level carbon management. The demonstration is executed by an evaluation of four different scenarios for city level carbon mitigation, including the construction of low-emission buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, restricting urban sprawl and reducing private driving together with an increase in the share of public transportation. The study shows that a life cycle assessment (LCA) model like the one utilised here can be operated effectively in city level carbon management. Furthermore, the comprehensive, consumption based assessment model, even though used locally, provides a global view on a global issue. The results of the assessment suggest that the only way to significantly reduce the carbon emissions, within a short time period, on a city level is to change the carbon intensity of the local energy production. Other mitigation strategies might be of importance too, but the limitations and dimensions of the impacts should be understood.
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| 5. |
- Heinonen, Jukka, et al.
(författare)
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Dense downtown living more carbon intense due to higher consumption : A case study of Helsinki
- 2011
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Ingår i: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9326. ; 6:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hindering urban sprawl is one of the main goals for contemporary urban planning. Urban density is considered crucial in climate change mitigation since it reduces automobile dependence and decreases unit sizes, for example. This letter analyzes the effect of density in a city context. In the study the Finnish capital Helsinki is divided into two areas of different urban densities: the high density downtown area and the more scarcely populated suburbs. The study is a continuation of a recently published study on the implications of urban structure on carbon emissions, and analyzes further the main finding of the first study - that higher urban density might have negligible or even reverse effect on the per capita carbon emissions. Similarly to the previous study, a consumption based tiered hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is employed in order to produce a comprehensive assessment, free of territorial boundaries and system cutoffs typical of traditional LCAs. Based on the findings of the previous study, it is hypothesized that when assessing city level carbon dioxide emissions from a wider, consumer oriented LCA perspective, increased urban density may not necessarily reduce carbon emissions. Surprisingly, the study finds that carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions are substantially higher in the dense downtown area than in the surrounding suburbs, which is suggested to imply that the increased consumption due to the higher standard of living increases emissions more than the higher density is able to reduce them. The results demonstrate that, while increasing urban density can be justified from a number of ecological, social and economic viewpoints, density is not necessarily a key parameter in the particular case of climate change. In cities like Helsinki, where wealth is concentrated in the downtown area, climate policies should give higher priority to the energy consumption of buildings, to alternative energy production and distribution modes, as well as to low carbon consumption within the city.
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| 6. |
- Kyrö, Riikka
(författare)
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Circular Economy in the Real Estate Sector - a review
- 2019
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Only very recently has the concept of circular economy gained momentum in the public sphere, and inspired consequent research. Within the field of built environment, the debate is even more nascent. This study aims at developing the definition of circular economy specifically for the purposes of the real estate sector. A definition of circular economy in real estate, is derived from the results of a systematic literature review. The systematic database search returned altogether 144 articles, of which83 were found relevant to the review. Notably, all articles date from 2016-2019, confirming the novelty of the research area. The majority of the articles discuss the use of salvaged or recycled building materials in new construction, or building material banks (also referred to as urban mining). Moreover, approximately one quarter of the articles consider circularity on the city scale, leaning towards the disciplines of urban metabolism and industrial ecology. Interestingly, the existingbuilding scale, which is most relevant to the real estate sector, is the focus of only 15 scientific articles at the time of the review. An additional few articles discuss the built environment holistically, and provide insight on all three aforementioned scales. The definition of circular economy in the real estate sector is developed based on the articles from the last two categories. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first explicit definition of circular economy in the context of the real estate sector. Based on the review, despite recent advancements in literature, much more research is needed about the transition to a circular economy on the scale of existing buildings. Therefore, the study also outlines a future research agenda, focusing on implications to the real estate management profession.
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| 7. |
- Kyrö, Riikka, et al.
(författare)
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Connecting adaptability strategies to building system lifecycles in hospital retrofits
- 2019
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Ingår i: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. - 0969-9988.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe fast advancement of medical technology and processes poses challenges to hospital construction and management. The purpose of this paper is to provide a structured approach to advancing adaptability in hospital retrofits, proposing the preferable timing and scope of different adaptability strategies.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach was chosen, with 28 semi-structured interviews designers, project managers, clients and healthcare professionals as the primary research data.FindingsThis paper presents a model for planning for the future in hospital retrofits. The model includes 11 different adaptability strategies, categorized based on the level of adaptability. Furthermore, each strategy is linked to an open building system level, indicating the appropriate timing. Based on the findings, generality strategies in the tertiary building system level are the most effective forms of adaptability, as they are easy to implement and answer to non-specific changes in hospital operations.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to existing knowledge on adaptability in buildings, and provide practical guidance particularly for designers. A new type of service offering, an adaptability roadmap detailing the scope and timing of adaptability, is suggested.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the existing research by detailing different approaches and knowledge related to adaptability and its strategies in hospital retrofits. More specifically, the three-fold categorization of adaptability is linked to both timing and intrusiveness in a novel way.
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| 8. |
- Kyrö, Riikka, et al.
(författare)
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Creative reuse driving revitalization in a post-industrial town
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Repurposing former industrial sites to creative uses (so-called 'creative reuse') contributes to both cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, as it maintains the existing building stock. Creative reuse may also have positive impacts on the site surroundings. This study explores the prerequisites, functioning, and consequences of creative reuse in a small post-industrial town in Sweden. We engage in a qualitative case study method, with interviews, observation, photographs, and written documents as our data sources. The studied case is a former ceramics factory adapted for creative and collaborative use. We find that the case has a restorative effect on the local town and its inhabitants through tourism activities and street art. Furthermore, the case employs immigrants and other individuals with difficulty entering the job market, creating an inclusive community. Finally, the focal actors have a strong do-it-yourself attitude, and wish to nurture a sense of ownership of the space. The users are taught to do minor repair and renovations themselves, instead of procuring professional facility services. The findings can act as inspiration for public officials and real estate developers in post-industrial towns struggling with vacant spaces. Meanwhile, end-users from the creative industries could apply the learnings also in other types of collaborative spaces.
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| 9. |
- Kyrö, Riikka, et al.
(författare)
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Embodying circularity through usable relocatable modular buildings
- 2019
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Ingår i: Facilities. - 0263-2772. ; 37:1/2, s. 75-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Global megatrends such as urbanization and ageing of the population result in fast-paced demographic changes, which pose different types of challenges for different regions. While many rural municipalities bear the burden of under-used buildings, cities are in a hurry to develop new ones to meet new space demands. The purpose of this paper is to assess the potential of relocatable modular buildings to address these challenges, following the principles of circular economy, while at the same time offering usability. Design/methodology/approach: This multiple case study explores existing relocatable modular health-care buildings in Finland. The case buildings host hospital support functions, imaging services, a health-care centre and a care home. The primary data comprise 21 semi-structured interviews and observation during factory and site visits. Findings: Based on the findings, relocatable modular buildings have many benefits and provide a viable option for cities and municipalities struggling to meet their fluctuating space demands. Some challenges were also identified, mainly derived from the dimensional restrictions of the modules. Originality/value: This research contributes to the emerging body of knowledge on circular economy in the built environment. More specifically, the research provides a very concrete example of circularity and details a framework for usable and relocatable modular buildings. In conclusion, relocatable modular buildings could solve the challenges posed by quickly changing demographics in different types of regions and deliver both usability and circularity.
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| 10. |
- Kyrö, Riikka, et al.
(författare)
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Four walls and beyond - hybrid spaces delivering content and community
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Refuse and reduce are amongst the most influential actions within Circular Economy and refer to the act of using less, reducing consumption. Within the spatial context, sharing is one way of reducing the need for physical space. Recently, other ways have emerged, such as, virtual or hybrid solutions enabling users to be part of a community and access content which would otherwise be delivered within a physical space. This study explores the development of online communities and content in connectionwith shared physical space. The aim is to establish how online community and content can complement the physical environment by growing larger communities and enabling more content to be delivered without the need for more space. The study employs a qualitative approach with two case studies which are based in Helsinki, Finland, and Malmö, Sweden. The spaces have a strong sustainability focus anddeliver content within the subject and build communities for sustainable conversations and action. We utilise interviews and a range of written documents as our data sources. We have also observed the online communities and taken part in online content sharing. The physical space plays a key role in the concept of the organisations, and the value delivery, as it enables collaboration and synergies between those accessing the shared space. The physical space enables organic encounters, which is more difficult to create virtually. However, the online community and content enables a wider reach as it is less spatially reliant. The findings are useful for those delivering shared spaces who wish to grow their reach without growing their physical spaces and environmental footprint.
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