Options
Innovation Diffusion and Substitution in Fragmented, Inert Systems
Type
fundamental research project
Start Date
15 September 2010
End Date
31 August 2011
Status
completed
Keywords
Innovation
Diffusion
Inert System
Simulation Modeling
Description
Mitigating climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing humankind. The building sector of a developing country requires about one fourth of that country's energy demand. Reducing this demand, and thus abating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is often imperative, but also problematic since the level of energy efficiency in the building stock is considerably low. Policy makers therefore ask themselves how improvements in energy efficiency can be achieved. One part of the answer is the availability of energy-efficient building codes, which require improved energy-efficient technologies. This thesis develops a model about how the energy efficiency required by building codes evolves. It shows that the evolution of energy efficiency results from complex interactions among agents in the residential building sector. How can policy makers influence this system to enhance energy efficiency? What reductions of GHG emissions can be achieved? Using a case study design, the thesis elaborates a dynamic model of the Swiss residential built environment that explains the evolution of energy efficiency in the Swiss building stock over four decades. This model then enables one to estimate possible reductions of GHG emissions in the future.
Leader contributor(s)
Partner(s)
MIT Sloan School of Management
Funder(s)
Topic(s)
Innovation
Diffusion
Inert System
Method(s)
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Simulation Modeling
Case Study
Range
Institute/School
Range (De)
Institut/School
Division(s)
Eprints ID
68986
2 results
Now showing
1 - 2 of 2
-
PublicationDynamics of Standard Intensification : Modeling the Cascade of Energy Codes for Residential Buildings( 2011-04-14)The formation of standards in a socio-economic system is a complex process of innovation and diffusion. For this presentation, the residential built environment in Switzerland is used as a revelatory case to understand the complex dynamics. I will report on a system dynamics model which was developed to study the intensification of the legal as well as voluntary building codes in Switzerland over more than three decades. The model addresses both the impact of a regulatory regime on innovation efforts and their adoption. In addition, it endogenously accounts for the intensification of voluntary and legal building codes regarding their energy demand. The case study provides background to create the model and is used to test the model's ability to reproduce various aspects of historical behavior. The model is then used to experiment with different policies and scenarios and to estimate the development of the future energy demand of the building codes. The presentation concludes that institutionalizing voluntary standards is important for overall standard intensification. Moreover, that a well-balanced scheme of incentives is required to positively influence the system development. The presentation concludes with a discussion about possible uses and future modifications of the modelType: presentation
-
PublicationType: conference paper