High-rise zero emission buildings in the Netherlands

Abstract

Abstract Since the whole world is facing climate change caused by CO2 emissions there is need for sustainable development. This research focuses on the construction sector in the Netherlands since buildings are a large contributor to urban pollution. The paper specifies on high-rise ZEB development. In the long run high-rise buildings can form an opportunity to contribute to sustainable development and be a solution to the increasing housing and office building shortage. This is currently not yet implemented on large scale. The construction sector is large and complex with a lot of different actors involved for each project. It is described as a traditional and conservative sector with low R&D expenditures. This research examens if this traditional character challenges the high-rise ZEB development by looking at the multiple institutional logics approach combined with the theory of institutional entrepreneurship. The results show a sector broad institutional field of risk averse behaviour, cost control, resistance to change, dispersed actor network and traditional regulation. These institutional logics form a stable and coherent system and challenges high-rise ZEB development because it is difficult to change a dominant stable system. However, some constructive logics including collaboration and experimentation arise. These are constructive since they are conflicting with the traditional set of logics. From the results another aspect came forward which appeared to be of quite large influence on the multiple institutional logics. These are labelled as the external factors including personnel shortages and increasing energy prices. The constructive logics in combination with the external factors are destabilizing the traditional logics and thereby creating opportunity for change. The opportunities of change can be used as starting point for institutional entrepreneurship which’s activities can be fulfilled by actors, actor groups or governmental organizations.