Harju, C., Häyrinen, L., Strandell, A. & Lähtinen, K. (2025). Environmental worries as drivers of housing preferences: Views of Finnish citizens.

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Julkaisun nimiEnvironmental worries as drivers of housing preferences: Views of Finnish citizens
KirjoittajatHarju, C., Häyrinen, L., Strandell, A. & Lähtinen, K.
JulkaisijaCities
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106314
Julkaisupäivä21.8.2025
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Abstract

Citizens’ housing preferences have been researched extensively for decades, but there is relatively little knowledge about how citizens’ environmental worries, along with sociodemographic factors, relate to their housing preferences. This study fills the void in the existing literature concerning the connections between citizens’ housing preferences, sociodemographics, and environmental worries (i.e. climate change and biodiversity loss) by employing Finland as a case region. The data of our study were collected from Finnish citizens through a nationally representative survey in 2022 and analysed with exploratory factor analysis and the independent samples t-test. Our findings show that citizens’ housing preference factors include aesthetics and views from home, peaceful location near nature, availability of services, short distance to schools and work, and living costs and home resale value. Furthermore, household income, rural/urban place of residence and environmental worries are related to how citizens evaluate different factors when choosing a home. For example, concerned urban respondents with a below average income considered the availability of services as the most significant factor, while concerned rural respondents with a below average income valued a peaceful location near nature most. Perceived quality of housing contributes to wellbeing of citizens, and different sociodemographic aspects affect their potential to choose homes they wish for. Thus, information on how people with different backgrounds and environmental worries is important for social equitability. Our results support decision-making among different actors (e.g. politicians, civil servants, businesses) involved in the supply of homes to better meet citizens’ diverse possibilities and preferences in demanding sustainable housing.

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Rahman, M.R., Korsunova, A., Dmitrijeva, A. & Toppinen, A. (2025). From Barriers to Solutions for Reclaiming Wood in Construction: a Business Ecosystem Case in Finland.

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Julkaisun nimiFrom Barriers to Solutions for Reclaiming Wood in Construction: a Business Ecosystem Case in Finland.
KirjoittajatRahman, M.R., Korsunova, A., Dmitrijeva, A. & Toppinen, A.
JulkaisijaCircular Economy and Sustainability
ISBN/DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-025-00575-7
Julkaisupäivä7.5.2025
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Abstract

The transition to circular economy requires reconsidering how value is created and captured and what new roles for actors need to emerge to enable circular business ecosystems. In construction, wood has been found to have the greatest reuse capacity as a building material. Although the EU emphasizes increasing circularity of wood, the current reuse rate in Finland is at a marginal level. Previous research has shown that business ecosystems are critical for increasing wood material circularity. This study explores the involvement of various business ecosystem actors in Finland, reviews the barriers in reclaimed wood circulation, and proposes potential solutions for increasing reclaimed wood use. The analysis is based on 14 semi-structured qualitative interviews and two participatory workshops with 13 experts from various phases of a building’s lifespan. Our results emphasize that the business ecosystem around reclaimed wood is complex, yet there is a pronounced need to create more interaction among the actors from various phases of a building’s lifespan to improve the circularity of reclaimed wood. Moreover, due to the heterogenous nature of wood as a material, the involvement of intermediaries specializing in reclaimed wood at different phases of a building’s life is called for to sensitize the ecosystem actors to the possibilities of reclaimed wood. Furthermore, the strong positions of the forest industry and virgin wood resources in Finland serve to weaken the momentum for use of reclaimed wood. Therefore, our results underline the need to find solutions with leverage potential to address the barriers across market, technological, regulatory, and cultural categories.

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Hoeben, A., Lautrup, M., Willig, J., García-Jácome, S., Jankovský, M., Toppinen, A., Vuletić, D., Peltoniemi, M. & Stern, T. (2025). Stakeholder views of adaptation measures to improve climate resilience: Case study evidence from European wood value chains.

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Julkaisun nimiStakeholder views of adaptation measures to improve climate resilience: Case study evidence from European wood value chains
KirjoittajatHoeben, A., Lautrup, M., Willig, J., García-Jácome, S., Jankovský, M., Toppinen, A., Vuletić, D., Peltoniemi, M. & Stern, T.
JulkaisijaForest Policy and Economics
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103379
Julkaisupäivä1.1.2025
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Abstract

This study examines stakeholders’ views of the feasibility and effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures across selected wood value chains in Europe based on survey data from 182 respondents. Respondents view the future implementation of adaptation measures as more feasible and effective than present implementation. Managers of conifer forests see more opportunities for implementing measures than managers of non-coniferous forests. This may be ascribed to the many measures currently being applied in countries with even-aged, non-site-adapted vulnerable coniferous forests. Furthermore, measures that predominantly increase resilience against bark beetle outbreaks and windthrow events are viewed more effective in coniferous forests, where these events are more frequent. Softwood processing experts generally consider implementing measures at processing facilities as less feasible and effective than hardwood processing experts. This may be due to the benefits gained by some softwood value chain segments from lower roundwood prices (which also applies to the lower-quality segments of hardwood processing), the more diversified raw material base in the softwood value chain and in secondary and tertiary processing facilities, and the hardwood industry’s dominant reliance on high-quality wood, which cannot be harvested prematurely. Policy implications include prioritising measures with high effectiveness and resolving barriers to their feasibility. The findings highlight the need to invest in infrastructure and transition to mixed-species forests to create and manage climate-resilient forests effectively. Non-coniferous forests also require a shift from even-aged to uneven-aged stands. Respondents from the processing industry prioritise investments in infrastructure and acquiring flexible machinery for processing diverse tree species and damaged wood.

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Ruokamo, E. & Sahari, A. (2025). Household heterogeneity in valuation of heating energy costs.

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Julkaisun nimiHousehold heterogeneity in valuation of heating energy costs
KirjoittajatRuokamo, E. & Sahari, A.
JulkaisijaEnergy Efficiency
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-025-10301-9
Julkaisupäivä3.2.2025
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Abstract

This study analyses household heterogeneity in the valuation of lifetime heating energy costs. The valuation is estimated from the willingness to pay higher upfront costs at the moment of installing a residential heating system to obtain savings in heating costs over its lifetime. We combine extensive administrative register data on new houses built in Finland during 2010-2011 with local electricity prices and engineering estimates of heat consumption and estimate a mixed logit model of heating system choice. The data allow defining the valuation as a function of several observable household characteristics. On average, households are willing to pay €7 more in upfront costs to obtain annual savings of €1 in heating costs over the lifetime of the heating system. However, we find considerable heterogeneity across households and a valuation ranging from €2 to €15 in higher upfront costs. The relatively low valuation indicates policy measures could be needed to accelerate energy efficiency investments in the detached housing stock. Furthermore, the notable heterogeneity suggests the cost-effectiveness of policy measures can be improved by targeting the households with lowest valuations.

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Laitinen, S.-E., Syrjälä, H., Kylkilahti, E. & Kääntä, L. (2025). Materials changing the performance of the household energy consumption practices.

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Julkaisun nimiMaterials changing the performance of the household energy consumption practices
KirjoittajatSara-Ellen Laitinen, Henna Syrjälä, Eliisa Kylkilahti, Liisa Kääntä
JulkaisijaJournal of Consumer Culture
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/14695405251321405
Julkaisupäivä14.2.2025
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Abstract

Materials are an essential part of social practices, their performance and sustainability. However, there are different views on the role of materials in practices and the agency they induce in relation to humans. The purpose of this research is to examine the agency of material in the household energy consumption practices. To this end, we analyse consumer narratives (n = 25) and interviews (n = 30) on daily home practices. Based on practice-theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that materials can change the performance of a practice in three main ways: by delaying the performance of the practice, shaping its performance, or creating a new practice. Furthermore, by comparing the material agency from human-centric and posthumanist practice theoretical approaches, we pinpoint the variability on the views on material contribution to practices and their sustainability. We show how sustainability is determined by the materiality of the practice, its connection to other practices, and people’s reactions to the disruption caused by the material.

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Ruokamo, E., Kylkilahti, E., Lettenmeier, M. & Toppinen, A. (2024). Are people willing to share living space? Household preferences in Finland.

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Julkaisun nimiAre people willing to share living space? Household preferences in Finland
KirjoittajatEnni Ruokamo, Eliisa Kylkilahti, Michael Lettenmeier, Anne Toppinen
JulkaisijaBuildings & Cities
ISBN/DOIDOI:10.5334/bc.453
Julkaisupäivä8.11.2024
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Abstract

This paper explores citizens’ interest in space sharing in private housing. It is based on a large-scale random sample citizen survey (N = 1448) conducted in Finland focusing on multiple aspects of low-carbon housing. Both quantitative preference-related results and qualitatively analysed open question responses show that the concept of shared space use is relatively low in popularity. However, there are differences depending on the space to be shared. Approximately half of the respondents are willing to use shared space for exercise, children playing and repairing activities, whereas a small fraction would use it for cooking, working and studying, or guest accommodation. Respondents’ backgrounds only slightly impact the willingness to share spaces. However, people in urban areas are more willing to share spaces. Larger floor area per inhabitant is negatively associated with the willingness to share spaces. This implies that sufficiency in housing is linked with space-sharing interests. This paper concludes that space-sharing is relatively unattractive under present conditions. Improving functionality and social trust by attractive design, clearer user rules and spreading good examples could be approaches to enhance the situation.

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Viljanen A., Kurttila M. & Toppinen A. (2024). Retrofitting urban areas with wood: the origin of new projects in an emerging business ecosystem.

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Julkaisun nimiRetrofitting urban areas with wood: the origin of new projects in an emerging business ecosystem
KirjoittajatAnne Viljanen, Mikko Kurttila, Anne Toppinen
JulkaisijaSilva Fennica
ISBN/DOIDOI:10.14214/sf.23068
Julkaisupäivä25.9.2024
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Abstract

Nurturing a low-carbon residential building stock requires businesses to create new solutions for markets. Wood material-based retrofits would be one solution but have remained rare in the urban context. Our study explores the structure and dynamics of an emerging business ecosystem (BE) of wooden retrofits in Finland. We study wooden retrofit projects, from the perspective of the initial steps of local-level development. By applying the concepts of BE and dynamic capabilities, we aim to shed light on the role of actors and their early-stage decision-making and use actor mapping and qualitative analysis of 27 thematic interviews with retrofit businesses and municipal actors. Results show that project initiation has relied on individual champions seizing opportunities as a main base in building dynamic capabilities. Builders and customers are key actors of wooden retrofit projects in local BEs in Finland. The identified actors are further involved with future plans for wooden retrofits, some with ambitious deep renovation with wood. Motivations for projects are driven from urban densification strategies, improvement of suburban neighborhood attractiveness and from the efficiency of space utilization. Results further elaborate a certain degree of difficulty in the early-stage decision-making. This study contributes to the scientific knowledge of both the BE and the dynamic capability perspective by exploring a path to material-driven sustainable construction in the Finnish context. We provide new information on this emerging retrofit construction business with potentially significant international implications if scaled up more widely.

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Lukkarinen, J. P., Das, RR., Laakso, S. & Martiskainen, M. (2024). Using energy vulnerability framework to understand household agency in sustainability transitions: Experiences from Canada and Finland.

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Julkaisun nimiUsing energy vulnerability framework to understand household agency in sustainability transitions: Experiences from Canada and Finland
KirjoittajatLukkarinen, J. P., Das, RR., Laakso, S. & Martiskainen, M.
JulkaisijaEnvironmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2024.100892
Julkaisupäivä1.9.2024
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Abstract

Sustainability transitions research is increasingly engaged with the complexities of justice and equitability. In housing, policy lock-ins and infrastructural inequalities expose people to volatile energy markets, energy poverty and climate impacts. These problems have often been dealt with reactively, without resolving their underlying systemic and structural causes. We examine household energy vulnerabilities, their exposure and sensitivity to certain risks, and what their adaptive capacity is in navigating those. Based on qualitative case studies of social housing in Canada and housing cooperatives in Finland, we show that interconnected exposures and sensitivities to risks are contextual. This can lead to energy vulnerability, further triggered by changes in policies, energy markets and the environment. In Canada, neglected housing maintenance causes exposure, while in Finland, policy utilizing bottom-up action does not always strengthen household agency, especially for vulnerable households. We call for more empirical studies on household energy vulnerability in different contexts.

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Lazarevic, D., Mokkila, S., Kivimaa, P., Lukkarinen, J. & Toppinen, A. (2024). Municipal experimental policy engagements in the built environment.

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Julkaisun nimiMunicipal experimental policy engagements in the built environment
KirjoittajatDavid Lazarevic, Saija Mokkila, Paula Kivimaa, Jani Lukkarinen, Anne Toppinen
JulkaisijaEnvironmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
ISBN/DOIDOI:10.1016/j.eist.2024.100888
Julkaisupäivä31.7.2024
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Abstract

Experimentation is a key theme in the sustainability transition literature, where cities are recognized as key intermediaries in experimentation. Whilst attention has focused on the role of the cities as intermediary actors, the ways in which municipalities engage in and support experimentation is less known. In a collective case study of four Finnish municipalities, we draw on the transformative innovation policy literature to investigate the experimental policy engagements and the types of transformative outcomes the municipalities aim to influence. The municipalities engaged in socio-technical experimentation, both as regime-based intermediaries and as innovators experimenting with internal processes and tools. Their attention was focused on building and expanding niches, with unlocking regimes seen to be something beyond their scope. We can observe an experimental culture beginning to emerge at the local governance level. Whilst projectification in the public sector has enabled this emergence, it also influences the form and continuity of experimentation.

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Kanninen, V., Ryöppy, S., Lähtinen, K. & Toppinen, A. (2024). Actor perceptions and network characteristics around climate-wise housing and construction in Finland.

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Julkaisun nimiActor perceptions and network characteristics around climate-wise housing and construction in Finland
KirjoittajatVesa Kanninen, Selja Ryöppy, Katja Lähtinen, Anne Toppinen
JulkaisijaBuilding research & information
ISBN/DOIDOI:10.1080/09613218.2024.2376251
Julkaisupäivä24.7.2024
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Abstract

Interaction between actors in sustainability transition is fundamental for generating knowledge about what constitutes a just, equitable and sustainable society. This paper focuses on the Finnish housing and construction sector as a socio-technical system, which currently accounts for about 40% of energy consumption and 35% of greenhouse gas emissions. A qualitative interview study with 18 organizations and a larger network study involving 35 actors were conducted to address the research questions: How do actors constitute a network and define climate-wise housing and construction? What specific focus areas can be identified around climate action? What issues support or inhibit climate-wise housing and construction? Although the network appeared relatively dense and inclusive, misalignment emerged upon closer examination. The actors were uniformly engaged in energy-related topics, but differed in their emphasis level on household choices, low-carbon materials, and the circular economy. Supporting and inhibiting factors were identified within three broad categories: alignment of goals, network characteristics, and transformation propensity. The findings suggest that climate action is gaining ground in housing and construction, but there is evidence of institutional inertia, a demand for accelerating support for intermediation, and a need to harness organizational resources and individual capabilities to create sustainability transitions.

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