The co-development of technology and new buildings: incorporating building integrated photovoltaics

Boyd, P., Larsen, G. D. and Schweber, L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6069-0002 (2015) The co-development of technology and new buildings: incorporating building integrated photovoltaics. Construction Management and Economics, 33 (5-6). pp. 349-360. ISSN 0144-6193 doi: 10.1080/01446193.2015.1074262

Abstract/Summary

Current approaches for the reduction of carbon emissions in buildings are often predicated on the integration of renewable technologies into building projects. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is one of these technologies and brings its own set of challenges and problems with a resulting mutual articulation of this technology and the building. A Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) approach explores how negotiations between informal groups of project actors with shared interests shape the ongoing specification of both BIPV and the building. Six main groups with different interests were found to be involved in the introduction of BIPV (Cost Watchers, Design Aesthetes, Green Guardians, Design Optimizers, Generation Maximizers and Users). Their involvement around three sets of issues (design changes from lack of familiarity with the technology, misunderstandings from unfamiliar interdependencies of trades and the effects of standard firm procedure) is followed. Findings underline how BIPV requires a level of integration that typically spans different work packages and how standard contractual structures inhibit the smooth incorporation of BIPV. Successful implementation is marked by ongoing (re-)design of both the building and the technology as informal fluid groups of project actors with shared interests address the succession of problems which arise in the process of implementation.

Additional Information	Special Conference Issue: 30th Annual ARCOM Conference
Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/42868
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/01446193.2015.1074262
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of the Built Environment > Organisation, People and Technology group Science > School of the Built Environment > Energy and Environmental Engineering group
Additional Information	Special Conference Issue: 30th Annual ARCOM Conference
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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