Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the potential for green roof retrofit to commercial buildings in a city centre to property managers and other property professionals. Design/methodology/approach – This... more
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the potential for green roof retrofit to commercial buildings in a city centre to property managers and other property professionals.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper addresses the research question: what is the potential of existing buildings in the CBD to accommodate a retrofitted green roof? Furthermore, it questions how many buildings are suitable for green roofs? The researchers compile a unique building database incorporating information about 536 commercial buildings and evaluate the potential suitability of each building to undergo a green roof retrofit. Assisted by other commercially available databases and software, the researchers are able to assess each roof based on criteria derived from an extensive literature review.
Findings – A relatively small proportion of roofs are found to be suitable, partly a result of local climate conditions and rainfall patterns, and the physical property stock. On a purely physical assessment, only a very small proportion of CBD stock is found to be suited. These buildings are most likely to be in low secondary locations, ungraded or B grade buildings, privately owned, concrete framed and not overshadowed by adjoining properties.
Practical implications – Property managers and other property professionals can now determine the potential of their portfolio stock for green roof retrofit based on the review of building attributes required for success adaptation in this paper. It possible that greater potential for green roof retrofit exists in the suburbs or regional towns where lower rise buildings may reduce the amount of overshadowing found in city centres. Follow-up research could focus on a comparison of regional and suburban developments.
Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind and has assessed such a large number of buildings for their suitability for green roof retrofit; the findings provide a reliable guide for policymakers regarding the potential number of city centre buildings which would be possible to retrofit. Such findings should influence policymaking and incentives to target effective sustainability policies with regards to existing buildings.
Keywords Environmental management, Global warming, Roofs, Buildings, Australia
This book provides a bridge between the introductory research methods books and the discipline-specific, higher level texts. Its unique feature is the coverage of the detailed process of research rather than the findings of research... more
This book provides a bridge between the introductory research methods books and the discipline-specific, higher level texts.
Its unique feature is the coverage of the detailed process of research rather than the findings of research projects. Chapter authors have been carefully selected by their expertise, discipline and location to give an eclectic range of perspectives. Particular care has been taken to balance positivist with interpretivist approaches throughout. The authors focus is on the practical consequences of research philosophies, strategies and techniques by using their own research and by evaluating the work of others.
Advanced Research Methods in the Built Environment addresses common topics raised by postgraduate level researchers rather than dealing with all aspects of the research process. Issues covered range from the practicalities of producing a journal article to the role of theory in research.
The material brought together here provides a valuable resource for the training and development of doctoral and young researchers and will contribute to a new sense of shared methodological understanding across built environment research.
examples from the built environment demonstrate the application of each topic area
highlights potential problems and suggests practical methods to resolve them
avoids duplication of introductory material
provides a thorough, concise and current literature review of each issue
"[The book] will be of unquestionable interest, use and value to researchers undertaking al types and levels of research across the built environment spectrum … It will prove to be a valuable edition to the body of knowledge supporting research practice within the built environment ... Highly recommended." (Building Engineer, February 2009)
Contents.
Foreword.
Preface.
Contributor List.
1 Methodological pluralism in construction management.
2 Architectural research.
3 Legal research .
4 Feminist research.
5 Approaches to economic analysis and modelling.
6 Epistemology.
7 Scientific theories.
8 Grounded theory.
9 Case study research.
10 Interviews: a negotiated partnership.
11 Questionnaire design and factor analysis.
12 Using software to analyse qualitative data.
13 Getting started in quantitative analysis.
14 Artificial neural network modelling techniques for applied civil and construction engineering research.
15 Social Network Analysis .
16 Managing the thesis.
17 Getting your research published in refereed journals.
18 Researcher attitudes and motivation.
19 Built environment futures research: the need for foresight and scenario learning
Purpose – This paper seeks to establish and demonstrate the relevance of feminist research methods within built environment research. While no one definition of feminist research exists, many feminist researchers identify characteristics... more
Purpose – This paper seeks to establish and demonstrate the relevance of feminist research methods within built environment research. While no one definition of feminist research exists, many feminist researchers identify characteristics which distinguish it from traditional social science research; it is research that studies women, or that focuses on gender.
Design/methodology/approach – There is a growing body of research into women and the built environment adopting feminist paradigms. This paper explains the dynamic, evolving philosophical
basis of feminist research methods drawing comparisons to traditional positivist methodologies and demonstrates that feminist research has characteristics that can be imported into other research paradigms.
Findings – The paper shows that there is much to be learned from an understanding of feminist research for all researchers in the built environment and that by adopting different approaches to
research, researchers may find new and original ways of examining complex issues.
Research limitations/implications – The implications are that all researchers in the built environment should consider the benefits of adopting a feminist approach in their research especially
where the researcher is seeking to gain a deeper understanding of peoples’ experiences.
Originality/value – This paper seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of adopting feminist research methods in a discipline dominated by traditional approaches to research.
Purpose Sustainable property development has increased in market share over the past 2-3 years globally and locally. This research analyses the drivers and barriers to sustainable property development in Melbourne using the triple bottom... more
Purpose
Sustainable property development has increased in market share over the past 2-3 years globally and locally. This research analyses the drivers and barriers to sustainable property development in Melbourne using the triple bottom line theoretical framework. The triple bottom line posits that sustainability has social, economic and environmental aspects to fulfil.
Methodology / approach
A questionnaire was sent out to 190 developers in Melbourne who promoted sustainable property development to ascertain their views about the drivers and barriers.
Findings
This research indicates that in the 2007 Melbourne market the drivers were social rather than economic. The data reveals that social reasons are considered more than economic arguments for incorporating sustainability into developments. The business case, or the economic drivers for sustainability alone do not convince developers.
Research limitations
The questionnaire survey informed us about developers’ views but not why they have these views. The sample was limited to Melbourne.
Practical implications
More developments are required for developers to become convinced of the benefits. The relatively low price of energy undermines the business case for sustainability in property here and needs to be fully costed.
Originality/value of paper
This paper shows us that whilst the theoretical framework cites three key areas for sustainability; the reality is that developers are currently driven by social and environmental factors primarily and the business case is not accepted by the majority of developers.
