Towards a Better Sustainable Danish Construction Industry: An Analysis of Management Practices and Technology Solutions

Abstract

Formålet med vores speciale Mod forbedring af den danske bæredygtige byggeri: En analyse af ledelsesmetoder og tekniske løsninger er at udforske tilstanden inden for Danmarks byggebranchen vedrørende nuværende miljøudfordringer, særligt i forbindelse med den 2050 Energi Strategi. Inden for disse rammer, målet af denne rapport er at betragte status quo og følgelig vurdere hvad for en handlingsplan kunne besejre udfordringerne såvel som ændringerne, byggebranchen skal gennemgå. Måden, på hvilken ændringerne kan blive gennemført for at skabe stigende energieffektive bebyggende omgivelser ifølge 2050 Energi Strategi-en, bliver undersøgt. Hovedområder, rapporten takler, er følgende:  Energikontrakter (ESCO)  Miljø- og Bæredygtighedscertificering systemer (DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, osv.)  SMART bygninger Data for specialen vare opnået primært gennem undersøgelse af både nationale og internationale data. Den koncentrerer sig primært om Danmark, hvor end det er brugbar. Endvidere fik vi chancen at have et interview med to eksperter fra branchen for at støtte vores forskning. Hver af de 9 kapitler og en konklusion, rapporten består af, handler om en særskilt perspektiv af problemet. Rapporten er opdelt i to dele, med problemformuleringen imellem dem. Den første del forsyner den teoretiske baggrund for den anden del, som består af analyse og forslager for handlingsplanens implementering. Den første kapitel er en indledning og præsenterer ideen bag specialet. Efterfølgende findes der den anvendte metodik, som redegører hvordan forskningen var opført, sammen med forfatternes pragmatisk begreb og en blanding af kvantitativ og kvalitativ analyse. Kapitel 3 viser status quo af Danmarks byggeindustri og fremsætter den store miljøudfordring vi står overfor, den udvalgte strategi og forklarer ideen bag ESCO-kontrakter såvel som Bæredygtighedscertificering systems. Kapitel 4 beskriver roller af byggeprocessens deltagere og undersøge deres indflydelse indbyrdes. Kapitel 5 er rapportens hovedpunkt, som lægger fundamenter for resten af den. Problemformulering etableres her og rækkevidden afgrænses. Resten af specialet har en analytisk karakter. Kapitel 6 indeholder en PESTEL analyse, følget af et kritisk overblik af Bæredygtighedscertificering systemer og SMART bygninger. Det afsluttes med en SWOT analyse af disse koncepter, som bygges et grund for den næste kapitel. Nummer 7 fokuserer sig på hvilke forhindringer kunne blive problematisk for de tre hovedområdernes implementering i byggebranchen. Kapitel 8 påfølger med at afsløre hvilke initiativer hjælper disse tre koncepter med at blive genkendt og veloverstået. Den afsluttende kapitel samler undersøgelserne og foreslår miljøvenlige tiltag, som skal hjælpe med at få ændringen til at ske. Slutresultaten består af to dele: den første handler om myndighedernes rolle i processen og deres lovgivende magt, som kan forsyne et tilskud for at finansiere miljøtiltag sammen med ændring af den måde, offentlige projekter bliver håndteret. Den anden giver et overblik over videndelingsmetoder i byggesektor, både gennem videregående uddannelse og diverse andre måde. Specialet afsluttes med en opsummering, hvor de vigtigste slutresultater såvel som de største mangler indiceres. Bundlinjen med rapporten er, at for at gøre en forskel, den første ting som skal gennemgå en stor ændring er folkens mentalitet, og deres videnskab om miljøsagen skal opbygges. Samtidig er det forfatternes rolle at sørge for hjælpende måder overvejende ved at øge bevidstheden om problemerne, fremme af omfattende kommunikation mellem deltagere i byggeprocessen samt lovgivningsmæssige incitamenter, der kommer fra regeringen.

The primary purpose of the Master Thesis Towards a Better Sustainable Danish Construction Industry: An Analysis of Management Practices and Technology Solutions is to investigate the status of sustainable development within the building industry in Denmark in regards to the current environmental challenges, linked to the 2050 Energy Strategy. In light of the current environmental challenges, the aim of the thesis is to observe the status quo and consequently evaluate what action can be taken in order to overcome the challenges and changes that the industry must tackle. It examines in what manner they can be implemented in order to create increasingly energy efficient built environments that would meet the Energy Strategy’s demands. The main research areas addressed used as reference points are:  Energy contracts (ESCO)  Environmental performance rating systems (DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, etc.)  Smart buildings The data for the thesis were obtained mainly through research of both national and international data, focusing mainly on Denmark, whenever applicable. Furthermore, two interviews with professionals from the industry were performed to support the research. The thesis is composed of nine chapters and a conclusion, each of them dealing with a different aspect of the issue. The report itself is divided into two main bodies, divided by the problem formulation; the first one serving as a background theory basis, providing information for the second one, consisting of analyses and suggestions for implementation of an action plan. The first chapter is introductory and presents the general idea of the report. It is followed by a methodology review, setting the general framework of how the research is conducted, along with presenting the authors’ Pragmatic worldview and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research. Chapter 3 provides an insight into the status quo of the building industry in Denmark, presenting the environmental challenge it faces, its chosen strategy and explains the idea behind energy contracting as well as sustainability rating systems. Chapter 4 follows up by describing the roles of the process participants, to show their mutual influences and connections. Chapter 5 is the centerpoint of the report, setting a foundation for its remainder by establishing the main research question, followed by a chapter delimitating the report’s scope. The rest of the report is analytical in its nature. In Chapter 6, a PESTEL analysis is performed, followed by a criticism of environmental rating systems and Smart buildings. It concludes with a SWOT analysis of these concepts, laying a foundation for Chapter 7, which concentrates on what obstacles could prevent the three focus points respectively from being implemented in the industry on a large scale; Chapter 8 subsequently reveals which initiatives are, on the other hand, serving as an aid for them to get recognized and drive them to success. The final chapter draws the investigations to one whole and suggest specific scenarios to be implemented to make the suggestions reality. The outcome consists of two main sections: the first one elaborates on the role of the authorities and their power to establish legal incentives, subsidies for funding the research and implementation of environmentally suitable building solutions together with changing the way public projects are being procured. Secondly, methods of knowledge sharing across the industry are overviewed, both via extensive educational systems and various platforms for professionals. The thesis is summed up by a conclusion, indicating its main outcomes as well as weaknesses. The bottom line remains that in order to make the change happen, a shift in the general mentality needs to occur first, and the major role of the authors is to provide arguments for how this can happen: predominantly by raising awareness of the issues, promoting extensive communication between building process participants as well as legislative incentives coming from the Government.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Towards a Better Sustainable Danish Construction Industry: An Analysis of Management Practices and Technology Solutions