Search Results (6)

The construction sector is responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, making the decarbonisation of the existing building stock a critical priority. In this context, Digital Building Logbooks (DBLs) are increasingly promoted as digital tools to support renovation planning, data continuity, and circular economy practices across the building lifecycle. Despite growing policy attention, the adoption of DBLs in renovation projects remains limited in practice. This study provides one of the first empirical rankings of perceived barriers, benefits, and drivers influencing DBL adoption in renovation projects across Europe. An exploratory quantitative survey was conducted with a purposively selected sample of stakeholders involved in renovation-related activities. Likert-scale responses were analysed using descriptive ranking statistics and reliability testing, while qualitative data from open-ended responses were analysed using directed content analysis. The results indicate that stakeholders strongly recognise the benefits of DBLs, particularly in terms of improved access to reliable building information, informed decision-making, and support for circular renovation practices. However, adoption is constrained by regulatory uncertainty, limited awareness, and unclear governance and operational frameworks. The most influential drivers identified relate to interoperability with existing digital tools, rising awareness of DBLs among stakeholders, regulatory support, and the availability of standardised and operationally clear frameworks for DBL implementation. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) emerged as a help for Indonesia as a pathway to address environmental challenges related to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Despite governmental efforts, including Presidential Regulation No. 55/2019, EV adoption rates in Indonesia remain low, although sales are increasing annually due to limited charging infrastructure, high upfront costs, and consumer perception. This study distinguishes itself from previous research by moving beyond a singular focus on policy, adoption factors, barriers, or economic opportunities. Instead, it integrates these dimensions into a cohesive analysis while placing particular emphasis on government policies. By adopting this multidimensional approach, the study presents a nuanced understanding of EV adoption in Indonesia, exploring not only the drivers, challenges, and economic potential but also the tangible benefits of EV manufacturing and usage for both producers and consumers within the current regulatory framework. It highlights the transformative impacts of EV adoption on key areas such as job creation, GDP expansion, and energy security, offering strategic insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders. Future research could explore rural infrastructure development, local battery production impacts, and long-term economic implications of EV in Indonesia’s ecosystem. Full article

This study investigates the social acceptance of integrated photovoltaic (IPV) systems in heritage and landscape contexts, focusing on Italian stakeholders in the construction sector. As part of the “BIPV meets History” research project, this study aims to identify barriers, potentials, drivers, and challenges for widespread PV technology adoption, considering heritage conservation, land preservation, energy production, and climate mitigation. A survey exploring opinions on PV technology integration was conducted. The survey was improved and extended to a total of 271 respondents, using the online method of Computer-Aided Web Interviewing (CAWI), to understand how perceptions of integrated photovoltaics have changed after COVID-19 and the European energy crisis, emphasizing aesthetic, environmental, economic, and personal aspects. The results indicate a general awareness of the technologies, with increasing acceptance in protected contexts, for historic buildings (from 51 to 68%) and especially landscapes (from 44 to 71%), driven by energy and environmental benefits. Cultural concerns, particularly the risk of impacting historical and natural identities, emerge as major barriers. Additionally, it is evident that awareness of PV panel recycling methods is still limited. Full article

The transport sector, and especially the increase in individual vehicle ownership, contribute significantly to air pollution. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is seen as a sustainable alternative to reduce emissions of polluting gases. However, in Brazil, the EV market has not yet reached a significant size. Given this scenario, this study aims to analyze the factors that influence the decision to buy EVs in Brazil, highlighting personal, psychological, economic, performance, and environmental variables and barriers. The aim is also to develop a model with guidelines that can help stakeholders. The quantitative stage of the study involved a survey of 514 respondents. The data were analyzed using statistical methods, including structural equation modeling (SEM), which allowed for a deeper investigation of the proposed hypotheses. The survey findings reveal that, in the Brazilian context, performance factors—such as autonomy, availability of recharging infrastructure, and maintenance—are the main drivers influencing EV purchase decisions. Environmental factors, including energy reuse, pollution reduction, and minimizing environmental impacts, have also gained significant importance. Economic factors are crucial, particularly concerning cost–benefit perceptions. The differences between Brazil and other regions highlight the importance of accounting for cultural and economic variations when analyzing consumer behavior towards EVs. Full article

The deployment of autonomous shuttles (ASs) holds health and safety benefits for people with and without disabilities. Transportation is critical in helping people with disabilities (PWDs) access health care, services, and jobs, but the current transportation system has not afforded them ubiquitous access. To understand the acceptance of ASs, we (1) quantified PWDs’ (N = 42) perceptions before and after riding in an AS (Level 4) and (2) developed a model of facilitators and barriers from 143 participants. For Objective 1, after riding in the AS, PWDs (n = 42) expressed increased Intention to Use (p < 0.001) and Acceptance (p < 0.001), and decreased Perceived Barriers (p < 0.001), compared with baseline. For Objective 2, four multiple linear regression models were conducted to predict the outcomes for Intention to Use, Perceived Barriers, Well-being, and Acceptance among all participants (N = 143). The results indicated that optimism and ease of use negatively predicted Perceived Barriers and positively predicted Intention to Use, Well-being, and Acceptance. Driving status (i.e., active driver) negatively predicted Intention to Use, Well-being, and Acceptance. Predictors of user Acceptance included optimism, perceived ease of use, driver status, and race/ethnicity—with 30.7% of the variance in Acceptance explained. We also recommended deployment strategies to project stakeholders. Full article

This study explores and compares stakeholders’ perceptions of biobased products over the last few years. Three groups of stakeholders are included: consumers, the business-to-business market, and public procurers. The main research method consists of a qualitative analysis of some of the results obtained in a series of surveys in Europe-wide projects with the aim of understanding the behaviour, motivations, and concerns of stakeholders related to biobased products. The aim is to gather up-to-date information on the opinion of society from the perspective of the different actors on this type of product, focusing on textiles, in order to make a series of proposals to favour their inclusion in the market, while at the same time answering which are the most influential aspects when it comes to favouring or complicating the access of bioproducts to the market. The document compiles information from multiple sources and years (2014–2020) and, together with the most current and available information (2021), is processed in such a way that the information can be compared across years and stakeholders, allowing to observe the evolution over time of societal perspectives and the variation in opinion according to stakeholder. The results are presented according to three themes: (1) level of awareness, (2) product information, and (3) benefits, drivers, and barriers. The main findings indicate a general lack of awareness of biobased products, as well as several divergences in terms of the best methods to promote market access for biobased textiles. Full article