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A Combined Value Focused Thinking-Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Structure Decision Support for Energy Performance Assessment of School Buildings

Author

Listed:
  • Hermano Bernardo

    (INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo II, University of Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Adélio Gaspar

    (ADAI, LAETA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polo II, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Carlos Henggeler Antunes

    (INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo II, University of Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

Several technological, social and organizational factors influence energy management in school buildings, resulting in a complex situation away from the usual engineering approach. The selection of evaluation criteria to assess the energy performance of school buildings remains one of the most challenging aspects since these should accommodate the perspectives of the potential key stakeholders. This paper presents a comprehensive problem structuring approach combining Soft Systems Methodology and Value Focused Thinking to elicit and organize the multiple aspects that influence energy efficiency of school buildings. The main aim of this work is structuring the fundamental objectives to develop a criteria tree to be considered in a multi-criteria classification model to be used by management entities for rating overall energy performance of school buildings. This methodological framework helped grasping the main issues at stake for a thorough energy performance assessment of school buildings and the need to define adequate policies for improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Hermano Bernardo & Adélio Gaspar & Carlos Henggeler Antunes, 2018. "A Combined Value Focused Thinking-Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Structure Decision Support for Energy Performance Assessment of School Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2295-:d:155893
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    Cited by:

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    2. Borgonovo, Emanuele & Jose, Victor Richmond R. & Knowlton, Morgan & Shachter, Ross & Siebert, Johannes Ulrich & Ulu, Canan, 2026. "Fifty years of decision analysis in operational research: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 329(2), pages 355-377.
    3. Mirian Bortoluzzi & Marcelo Furlan & Simone Geitenes Colombo & Tatiele Martins Amaral & Celso Correia de Souza & José Francisco dos Reis Neto & Josimar Fernandes de França, 2021. "Combining Value-Focused Thinking and PROMETHEE Techniques for Selecting a Portfolio of Distributed Energy Generation Projects in the Brazilian Electricity Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Killemsetty, Namesh & Johnson, Michael & Patel, Amit, 2022. "Understanding housing preferences of slum dwellers in India: A community-based operations research approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 298(2), pages 699-713.
    5. Alexandre de A. Gomes Júnior & Vanessa B. Schramm, 2022. "Problem Structuring Methods: A Review of Advances Over the Last Decade," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 55-88, February.
    6. José Antônio Bertotti Júnior & Ana Paula Cabral Seixas Costa, 2025. "Climate Action for Decarbonization: The Case of a Subnational Government in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-21, July.
    7. Piotr Michalak & Krzysztof Szczotka & Jakub Szymiczek, 2021. "Energy Effectiveness or Economic Profitability? A Case Study of Thermal Modernization of a School Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, April.

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