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Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 6107

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Darja Kobal Grum

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: sustainability; wellbeing; environmental psychology; pro-environmental behavior

Dr. Katarina Babnik

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: organizational behavior; consumer psychology; sustainable behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable innovation is a multifaceted concept increasingly embedded in interdisciplinary research on the relationship between people, the environment, and society. Sustainable innovation creates new living conditions to promote sustainable development at four levels: individual, society, environment, and economic development. This process is not limited to technological change but includes changes in processes, operational practices, social and environmental models, business systems, and individual lives. The question is whether all so-called sustainable innovations contribute to human well-being while respecting the world's natural resources and regenerative capacity.

In this Special Issue, we start from the premise that the concept of sustainable innovation opens a new research paradigm on the development of humans, society, the economy, and the environment. This paradigm challenges the traditional and neoliberal ways that have prioritized production and consumption, competition, the free market, and the over-individualization of the individual over concern for a clean environment, health, well-being, decent work, and the right to education. We state that it spreads out from the grounds of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by all UN member states as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are therefore interested in the extent to which sustainable innovation processes contribute to the SDGs' achievement, how they fit into the built environment, and how they relate to the promotion of social, economic, human, and environmental well-being.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

Sustainable innovation as a new psychosocial, environmental, and economic paradigm
Sustainable innovation concepts and approaches to the interdisciplinarity of sustainable innovation
Sustainable innovation and environmental, social, economic, and individual growth
The role of sustainable innovation in the built environment
Sustainable innovation and sustainable well-being
Policies vis à vis sustainable innovation
Case studies of sustainable innovation in the built environment
Investments that improve sustainable innovation processes in the built environment

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Darja Kobal Grum
Dr. Katarina Babnik
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable innovation
sustainable wellbeing
sustainable growth
built environment
human behavior
policies
investments

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 3925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ljubljana—European Green Capital 2016: From Strategic Spatial Planning to Governance

by Kaliopa Dimitrovska Andrews, Matej Nikšič, Luka Mladenovič, Boštjan Cotič, Barbara Mušič and Boštjan Kerbler

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3332; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083332 - 16 Apr 2024

Viewed by 620

Abstract

Ljubljana was the first post-socialist city awarded with the title European Green Capital. The title awarded by the European Commission is given to a city that is achieving high environmental standards, is setting ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development, and can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to all other European cities. The article is based on a hypothesis that at the moment when Ljubljana applied for (and was awarded) the European Green Capital title, it had strong strategic spatial planning and successful territorial governance, as well as the interweaving of both. To prove the hypothesis, the timetable and characteristics of the strategic spatial planning and territorial governance in Ljubljana are presented in this article and critically evaluated. Critical evaluation and analyses are also assessed using a qualitative research method, i.e., semi-structured in-depth interviews among experts from four professional fields including spatial planning, urbanism, architecture, and management. The results confirmed the hypothesis: Ljubljana’s sustainability-oriented strategic spatial plan prepared by a variety of stakeholders, experts, and citizens, as well as the effective governance system established by the mayor, a manager by profession, were two factors that coincided at a crucial moment. This was recognized by the European Commission and Ljubljana was awarded a prestigious title. Ljubljana can therefore serve as an excellent sustainable example for other post-socialist cities in terms of strategic spatial planning and governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment)

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14 pages, 864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Real Estate “COVID” Factors on Expressed Satisfaction of Residents during COVID-19 Pandemic

by Bojan Grum

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020739 - 15 Jan 2024

Viewed by 740

Abstract

This article addresses research questions on participants’ satisfaction with the essential “COVID” factors of home ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyses statistically significant differences in participants’ demographic characteristics in relation to the various “COVID” factors. The main instrument used to measure the participants’ satisfaction was a questionnaire from our previous study in 2010. The participants expressed as the most important “COVID” factors the possibility of setting up a home office, internet in the flat and the possibility of setting up a mudroom, a separate, independent space and contact with nature, which can include good natural lighting and ventilation. The results show that the statistically significant differences between the year 2010 and 2021 in terms of living conditions in the property are expressed in the participants’ satisfaction with their current living conditions, brightness of natural light, proximity to kindergartens, schools, work opinions and health centres, maintenance costs and sense of belonging to the neighbourhood. This understanding gives our study a special significance. Our study investigates the parameters of the interior of properties, so in the future, it would make sense to expand the studies in this field to include living parameters, the building, the surroundings and the neighbourhood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment)

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15 pages, 754 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling the Complex Interplay of Sustainability, Investments, and Economic Indicators

by Karime Chahuán-Jiménez, Rolando Rubilar-Torrealba, Hanns de la Fuente-Mella and Claudio Elórtegui-Gómez

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010003 - 19 Dec 2023

Viewed by 841

Abstract

The concept of sustainability, both in strong and weak forms, has been evaluated through methodologies like the Human Development Index and the Index of Sustainability Development. While the strong form emphasizes the irreplaceable nature of natural capital, the weak form has been often critiqued for its operational ambiguity, even amidst international conservation agreements. Meanwhile, the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals have been grouped into categories based on their influence being positive or negative. Multinational companies’ investments, both internal and external, play a vital role in balancing competitiveness and addressing externalities in various host communities. This research primarily focuses on understanding the intricate relationship between human development, concentration indices, sustainable development, investment, and gross domestic product (GDP). In this research, we use an econometric methodology based on maximum likelihood estimation to control for heteroskedasticity effects of the proposed models. The main results indicate that factors such as the level of industrial concentration, human development, and GDP have a significant impact on the sustainability indices of the countries of the research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment)

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13 pages, 1584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Window View Preferences in Various Environmental and Activity Contexts

by Ajda Fošner, Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik and Živa Kristl

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16215; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316215 - 22 Nov 2023

Viewed by 690

Abstract

Our surroundings, as viewed through the window, have a significant impact on how we feel, how we think, and how productive we are. In order to build settings that promote pleasant emotions and support mental health, whether at home or at work, it is crucial to take the window view into account as well as any potential consequences it may have. In this study, we first conduct a bibliometric analysis of the topic using Elsevier SciVal data. Then, using a questionnaire survey, we proceed to determine what is the respondents’ favourite window view and what is the reason they look through the window. The results show that the preferred window view contains greenery, and the main reason for looking through the window is mental disconnection. The Chi-Square test results suggest that there is a correlation between age and the preferred window view. Furthermore, the results also showed that there is a connection between the environment where the respondents spend the majority of their workday and the reason for looking through the window. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment)

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10 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychometric Properties of the Slovenian Version of the Brief Sense of Community Scale

by Gregor Sočan and Darja Kobal Grum

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15394; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115394 - 28 Oct 2023

Viewed by 923

Abstract

A sense of community plays an important role in promoting sustainable behaviors and values. Therefore, when measuring sense of community, it is important to ensure that such measurement instruments have excellent psychometric properties. In this study, we start from the model that sense of community is related to a person’s perception of his or her relationship with a community, particularly in terms of need fulfillment, sense of connectedness and emotional connection, and perceived impact on the community. The Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) is an 8-item self-report scale designed specifically for the assessment of individuals’ relation with their neighborhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure and reliability of a new Slovenian version. A sample of 502 adults from Slovenia completed the scale. The data did not support the original hierarchical four-factor model. On the other hand, a one-factor model with autoregressive effects on the unique factors fitted well. The reliability of the sum score was excellent, while only two out of the four subscales had acceptable reliability. The results support the use of the Slovenian version of the BSCS as a unidimensional scale and allow the use of this measure in research on sense of community and possibly as a rigorous measure in further studies of sustainable development in different cultures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment)

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Review

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20 pages, 993 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Interplay of the Physical Environment and Organizational Climate in Innovation

by Lei Peng and Ruiying Jia

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15013; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015013 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1627

Abstract

The intricate relationship between physical and social environments within organizations plays a pivotal role in shaping innovation endeavors. This paper introduces a three-dimensional framework aimed at comprehending the intricate mechanisms through which the physical and social environments synergistically drive innovation. Building on this, a systematic four-dimensional framework (communality, individuality, comfort, and health) is proposed to structure a comprehensive literature review, mapping out the intricate linkages between innovation and the physical environment. Through this extensive review, we delve into the intricate connections between the physical innovation environment and the broader innovation climate, unearthing valuable insights. Additionally, we highlight two promising directions for future research within the realm of physical environment–innovation climate interactions. Furthermore, we underscore the paramount importance of embracing an interdisciplinary approach, seamlessly blending perspectives from both the physical and social spheres to gain a holistic and nuanced understanding of the innovation landscape. This integrated viewpoint is pivotal to unraveling the multifaceted dynamics that underlie successful innovation initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Investigation and Research of Sustainable Innovation in Built Environment)

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