Ahtosalo, H., Harju, C., Kylkilahti, E., Lukkarinen, J. Lähtinen, K. & Syrjälä, H. (2026). Bringing in the citizen: Stakeholder participation in co-production processes of sustainable housing.

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Julkaisun nimiBringing in the citizen: Stakeholder participation in co-production processes of sustainable housing
KirjoittajatAhtosalo, H., Harju, C., Kylkilahti, E., Lukkarinen, J. Lähtinen, K. & Syrjälä, H.
JulkaisijaAmbio
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02416-9
Julkaisupäivä7.5.2026
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Abstract

Incorporating citizen views through stakeholder engagement enhances the democratic and equitable governance of sustainability transitions. Using stakeholder theory as a conceptual frame, this study evaluates the use of different stakeholder participation processes to co-produce solutions for more sustainable housing in Finland. This study examines how citizens are positioned, levels of participation, and factors affecting success. Data were collected in three participatory processes: a service design process, a hackathon, and transition arenas, which sought to improve citizens’ opportunities for more sustainable housing. Our results show that citizens were positioned differently across the stakeholder processes. Although all processes aimed for high levels of participation—such as collaboration and empowerment—the achieved levels varied and, in some cases, remained limited. Moreover, several contextual, organizational, and process-related factors influenced the outcomes and shaped how participating stakeholders perceived citizens’ views. Addressing these challenges is crucial when selecting participatory methods for research, planning, and policy.

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Vainikka, J. T., Lindfors, J., Laitinen, S.-E., Salmela, E., Kemppainen, T., Toppinen, A. & Bernelius, V. (2026). Five Finlands: A mixed-method climate attitude segmentation from a housing perspective.

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Julkaisun nimiFive Finlands: A mixed-method climate attitude segmentation from a housing perspective
KirjoittajatVainikka, J. T., Lindfors, J., Laitinen, S.-E., Salmela, E., Kemppainen, T., Toppinen, A. & Bernelius, V.
JulkaisijaGeoforum
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2026.104665
Julkaisupäivä17.4.2026
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Abstract

The climate changes faster than our collective sense of urgency for climate action. Previous research has acknowledged the diverse segments of climate-concerned publics but often without qualifying the discursive landscape within such groupings. In this mixed-methods-based paper, we first employ latent class analysis to random sample survey data representing the Finnish public to form a five-part classification. Second, we complement the segmentation with qualitative insights from online discussions and interview material. We name the segments Engaged, Aware, Cautious, Unsure, and Divergent based on their attitudes toward the changing climate and their housing behaviours. We also reflect on why the respondents tend to cluster into such segments based on socioeconomic, geographical, and ideological factors. Using this classification as a lens allows us to identify residents between more active or vocal opposites and sheds light on the overlooked mass that holds a key for more effective climate policies. While such a classification scheme can overlap at points and be contextual and shifting, it helps to place various approaches and attitudes to scale. By operationalising the created typology, we discuss why it is crucial to understand the views of the mass in the middle, i.e., individuals who recognise climate change but, to an extent, feel disempowered from climate-wise practices, why proliferating a societal change through these individuals has the best potential for successful climate mitigation and why it is necessary to understand their political agency for (in)action.

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Ruokamo, E., Karhinen, S., Kemppainen, T., Räihä, J., Strandell, A., Marttila, J., Häyrinen, L., & Toppinen, A. (2026). How is energy poverty linked with citizen perceptions of financial support for low-carbon housing?.

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Julkaisun nimiHow is energy poverty linked with citizen perceptions of financial support for low-carbon housing?
KirjoittajatRuokamo, E., Karhinen, S., Kemppainen, T., Räihä, J., Strandell, A., Marttila, J., Häyrinen, L., & Toppinen, A.
JulkaisijaAmbio
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02364-4
Julkaisupäivä17.3.2026
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Abstract

Housing affordability and climate sustainability are increasingly interlinked in Europe, as housing costs strain household budgets and the residential sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates Finnish public perceptions of decarbonization housing policies, particularly views on financial support for the transition to low-carbon housing. Using nationally representative survey data from 2022, combined with housing registry and price data, we analyze how both objective and subjective indicators of energy poverty are linked with support for public funding. The findings demonstrate strong public support, particularly among women, urban residents, and those using oil heating. Objective energy poverty correlates positively with policy support, and subjective economic well-being mediates this relationship. These findings contribute to the growing literature on housing, energy poverty, and climate policy acceptance, underscoring the importance of addressing social vulnerabilities to secure equitable and widely supported low-carbon housing transitions.

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Laitinen, S.-E., Kylkilahti, E. & Syrjälä, H. (2026). Home care process interrupted – Barriers to maintaining and repairing houses and apartments.

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Julkaisun nimiHome care process interrupted – Barriers to maintaining and repairing houses and apartments
KirjoittajatLaitinen, S.-E., Kylkilahti, E. & Syrjälä, H.
JulkaisijaConsumption & Society
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1332/27528499Y2026D000000071
Julkaisupäivä2.3.2026
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Abstract

In the current study, we examine what kinds of barriers appear with home maintenance and upkeep practices as a form of the care process. Maintaining a home can be seen as providing care for both the dwelling and its inhabitants. To investigate which barriers may interrupt the home care process and how they hinder its progress, we explored interview data (n=28) of homeowners, tenants and right-of-occupancy residents living in Finland. The findings are presented in relation to the four phases of the care process in which the barriers are hindering the process. In our analysis, we identify barriers related to the elements of practices, actions or practices of other people and time. Often, care is hindered by interlinked combinations of several different barriers. When the care process is interrupted, it affects both the comfort of the residents and the condition of the home. Our results bring forward that care, the residents, the house or apartment, and the environment are interconnected and interdependent. In addition, the residents’ possibilities to care for the home are tied to barriers. This research contributes to home maintenance literature by introducing the perspective of care in the prevailing discussions and the growing discussion on care within consumption studies. It provides a nuanced understanding of how the barriers delimit consumers’ agency in carrying out home maintenance practices as a form of care.

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Vainikka, J. & Saastamoinen, U. (2026). Decarbonising homes and the in-between: Intersections of visible and latent climate-wise housing and mobility.

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Julkaisun nimiDecarbonising homes and the in-between: Intersections of visible and latent climate-wise housing and mobility
KirjoittajatVainikka, J. & Saastamoinen, U.
JulkaisijaAmbio
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02332-4
Julkaisupäivä9.1.2026
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Abstract

Effective decarbonisation must be socially equitable and attentive to the capacities of households to adopt and apply new social practices at home and in mobility spaces in-between. Understanding attitudinal landscapes and the dynamics of social recognition and interaction surrounding decarbonisation helps advance technical solutions and reduce consumption. This paper approaches decarbonisation as a “social dramaturgy” of climate-friendly practices and conceptualises the modalities and performances of climate action in public and private spaces, following Erving Goffman’s notions of “front- and backstages”. Analysing a geocoded Finnish survey from 2022 (n = 1446), we compare visible technological solutions with more latent, self-reported energy- and resource-saving practices. By examining how attitudes toward climate change shape beliefs in various solutions, we find that backstage decarbonisation practices align more with climate change concerns, while frontstage practices diffuse more easily. This novel sociospatial approach contributes to debates on the legitimacy of climate action and efforts to curb segregation concurrently.

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Strandell, A., Karhinen, S., Pitkänen, K., Siiskonen, S.-T. & Ruokamo, E. (2026). Twice upon a home: Energy use, emissions and inequality across primary and second homes.

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Julkaisun nimiTwice upon a home: Energy use, emissions and inequality across primary and second homes
KirjoittajatStrandell, A., Karhinen, S., Pitkänen, K., Siiskonen, S.-T. & Ruokamo, E.
JulkaisijaEnergy Research & Social Science
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104491
Julkaisupäivä12.12.2025
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Abstract

Residential energy consumption plays an essential role in mitigating climate change. An energy transition has the potential to alleviate socioeconomic disparities, although it can also lead to an unfair distribution of costs and benefits. The residential energy transition is already progressing in many countries, yet there remains a research gap regarding the participation of diverse population groups and the contribution of second homes to overall household energy consumption and emissions. We applied a novel approach, integrating multiple data sources, to calculate residential energy consumption and emissions for a sample of Finnish households, including those arising from second homes. Regression analysis was then employed to examine the influence of household and building-specific factors on energy consumption and emissions. Regression models initially indicated a positive association between income and per-capita energy use and emissions. However, after accounting for building characteristics, income was negatively associated with per-capita energy consumption. These findings suggest that middle- and high-income households tend to occupy more energy-efficient dwellings than low-income households. Furthermore, while rural households exhibited higher per-capita energy consumption than urban households, differences in emissions were less pronounced. Second homes significantly increased energy use and emissions. The results indicate that certain population groups and areas may be excluded from the benefits of the residential energy transition, warranting further research into the specific circumstances of diverse groups. Future policies aimed at promoting residential energy transition should prioritize support for low-income households and incorporate measures addressing energy consumption and emissions from second homes.

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Kylkilahti, E., Viljanen, A., & Toppinen, A. (2025). Cities co-creating low-carbon housing via social innovation initiatives.

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Julkaisun nimiCities co-creating low-carbon housing via social innovation initiatives
KirjoittajatKylkilahti, E., Viljanen, A., & Toppinen, A.
JulkaisijaInnovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2025.2591057
Julkaisupäivä25.11.2025
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Abstract

In the context of needed low-carbon solutions, this study approaches sustainable housing as a service that can be developed via the process of multi-actor social innovations. The study concentrates on the front end of the co-creation process that aims to generate ideas for initiatives that contribute to climate change mitigation or adaptation in the built environment. With a special focus on cities as public sector actors, the study explores their role and ability to drive low-carbon initiatives. Building on the theoretical understanding of social innovations and utilizing a service-design approach, the study generates workshop data that involves city representatives, key stakeholders and researchers, and analyses also qualitative consumer-citizen data and city strategic documents. The results suggest that there is a common pool of challenges, indicated by the cities’ strategic climate goals, that several future assumptions guide the envisioning of the future in 2035 and that there is a call for the greater development of human-centric solutions. To turn these strategic aims, vision and citizen needs into actionable initiatives, cities face three key challenges: the inter-organizational division of labour and cooperation within cities, the multiplicity of actors with limited interaction channels, and unidentified ownership of responsibility in the innovation process.

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Koskela, M., Kääntä, L., Salmela, E., & Syrjälä, H. (2025). “How Do We Replace Concrete?” Building Sector Professionals Addressing Knowledge Asymmetries About Climate-Wise Housing.

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Julkaisun nimi“How Do We Replace Concrete?” Building Sector Professionals Addressing Knowledge Asymmetries About Climate-Wise Housing.
KirjoittajatKoskela, M., Kääntä, L., Salmela, E., & Syrjälä, H.
JulkaisijaHERMES – Journal of Language and Communication in Business
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.7146/hjlcb.vi65.152197
Julkaisupäivä8.10.2025
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Abstract

The aim of the article is to explore how housing and construction field experts give advice concerning climate-wise housing in a professional magazine, and what types of potential knowledge asymmetries are connected with the advice. By potential knowledge asymmetries we refer to situations in which experts writing to other experts in a professional magazine indicate differences in the depth, scope, or type of knowledge possessed about a topic by offering advice to the readers. By offering advice, the authors position themselves as having epistemic authority on the topics they address. Based on argumentative, editorial-type texts in a Finnish building and construction field magazine, a pragmatic discourse analysis combined with qualitative content analysis of ways of advice-giving and sources of potential knowledge asymmetries in the context of climate-wise housing was conducted. The findings reveal that (1) all combinations of explicit-implicit and targeted-not-targeted advice-giving are present in the data, but explicit and not-targeted advice are most prevalent; (2) there are five main sources of potential knowledge asymmetries concerning system-level phenomena: technical, legal-regulatory, political, economic, and expertise-related. The paper concludes by discussing the potential and limitations of advice-giving in written expert-to-expert contexts in contributing to advancing climate-wise housing.

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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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