Management Of Public Buildings Research Articles

Analysis on the influencing mechanism of informational policy instrument on adopting energy consumption monitoring technology in public buildings

Energy consumption monitoring technology plays a very important role in the realization of intelligent building energy saving, but it is not accepted widely in China. The main reasons for this are the low public energy-saving awareness and incomplete informational policy instruments; thus, studying how informational policy instruments affect the adoption of energy consumption monitoring technology and the impact of energy-saving awareness is of great significance to the widespread acceptance of energy consumption monitoring technology and its role in the realization of intelligent building energy saving. This paper introduces informational policy instruments and energy-saving awareness into technology acceptance model and builds an extended technology acceptance model. A questionnaire survey of 298 respondents who related to the operation and management of public buildings was used to explore the effect mechanism of informational policy instruments on adopting energy consumption monitoring technology. The results show that (1) informational policy instruments have no direct impact on the acceptance of energy consumption monitoring technology (2) and energy-saving awareness, attitudes, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use can mediate the relationship between informational policy instruments and behavioral intention of adopting energy consumption monitoring technology, namely, informational policy instruments can affect behavioral intention through six paths which are informational policy instruments ➔ energy-saving awareness ➔ behavioral intention, informational policy instruments ➔ energy-saving awareness ➔ attitudes ➔ behavioral intention, informational policy instruments ➔ attitudes ➔ behavioral intention, informational policy instruments ➔ perceived ease of use ➔ behavioral intention, informational policy instruments ➔ perceived ease of use ➔ perceived usefulness ➔ behavioral intention, informational policy instruments ➔ perceived usefulness ➔ behavioral intention. Finally, relevant policies and suggestions are put forward based on the results.

Climate change adaptation in the management of public buildings: an Indonesian context

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a strategy to integrate climate change adaptation (CCA) in public asset management (PAM) in Indonesia. This paper focusses on public buildings as part of a public asset.Design/methodology/approachAs an archipelagic country, Indonesia is very vulnerable to sea-level rise as a result of climate change. The outcomes of a qualitative analysis of interviews with relevant stakeholders were used for the development of the CCA framework in an Indonesian context.FindingsThe study identified that the integration of CCA in PAM in Indonesia requires the incorporation of nine key elements. These are as follows: recognition of climate change; risk management and insurance schemes for assets; integrated asset management and planning; asset use and knowledge; reliable, accessible and understandable data set on climate change; leadership, government commitment and incentives; involvement of research and private entities; community engagement; and coordination of relevant agencies.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper informed only the key elements required on the development of framework which integrate CCA in PAM.Practical implicationsThe integration of CCA to a PAM framework will support the development of policies and procedures for better-informed decisions.Social implicationsThe framework increases opportunities for stakeholders and community engagement in policy development and decision making in relation to CCA for public assets.Originality/valueThis paper synthesises CCA and PAM using knowledge from the three levels of governments in Australia and Indonesia. CCA and PAM groups work separately in Indonesia and integration will reduce climate change risks and improve decision making in PAM.

Research, knowledge and collaboration Dilemmas of the PFI

Although the Department for Education and Skills' ‘Classrooms of the Future’ and ‘Design Exemplar Initiative’ are to be welcomed (arq 7/3+4, pp244–279), they should not be allowed to obscure the far-reaching issues involved in the Public Finance Initiative (PFI). As a procurement process, PFI represents a massive investment in social programmes and public building projects: the estimated £34 billion in contract or commissioned gives an indication of this. PFI transfers the responsibilities and risks associated with the procurement, delivery and management of public buildings and estates over a period of 25 years to the private sector, and almost none of the expenditure involved is reflected in the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement. This makes it highly attractive to government, but the question remains as to how much it mortgages the nation's future because it merely defers and extends borrowing. If schemes mature at a time of recession or serious budget deficit, the implications could be highly damaging.