Exploring Socio-Technical Features of Green Interior Design of Residential Buildings: Indicators, Interdependence and Embeddedness

Yan Ning,Yadi Li,Shuangshuang Yang,Chuanjing Ju

doi:10.3390/su9010033

Abstract

This research aims to develop indicators for assessing green interior design of new residential buildings in China, grounded in the socio-technical systems approach. The research was carried out through a critical literature review and two focus group studies. The results show that the boundaries of green interior design were identified with respect to three dimensions, namely performance, methodology and stakeholders. The socio-technical systems approach argues for the recognition of the interdependence between the systems elements and the feature of embeddedness. The interdependence of the systems elements exists within each of these three dimensions and across them. It is also found that the socio-technical systems of green interior design are embedded in the social, regulatory and geographic context. Taking interior design of residential buildings as the empirical setting, this study contributes to the literature of green building assessment by presenting a socio-technical systems approach.

Highlights

Green development has become the national strategy for economy development and the topmost governmental agenda in China
This study argues for a socio-technical systems approach [3], which emphasizes that green interior design is characterized by systems and embeddedness features
Aside from the indicators for green interior design being developed, this study examined the socio-technical systems features of green interior design of residential buildings

Summary

Introduction

The Chinese government initiated five principles for national development in the fifth Plenary Session of the 18th the Communist Party of China Central Committee in 2015. These are innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing. According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, in 2012, China accounted for 21.9% of total worldwide primary energy consumption. The building sector consumes about 27.0% of the country’s total energy. The building sector has accounted for approximately 43% of China’s total energy consumption from the life-cycle perspective [1]. Achieving green in the building sector will significantly contribute to a reduction in overall use of carbon and energy

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