Limitations and future research

Abstract

The final chapter of this book addresses key limitations of the work undertaken and also details possible paths for future research. From a substantive perspective, this interdisciplinary work has been limited by the fact that historical data about changes in implicit building codes were only sparsely available. Methodologically, the study represents only a single case, not a comparative one, which does not allow one to draw more general hypotheses or conclusions. For future research, it would be worthwhile to address the challenge of improving policy makers mental models about the feedback dynamics and policy resistance in the residential built environment, as well as possible responses. It became obvious during this research that the respective mental models of policy and decision makers, while they are accurate in specific sections of the system, fail to consider relevant feedback dynamics. Computer-based learning environments could help to experiment and study the effects of policies on the GHG emissions of the residential building sector, thereby enriching the mental models used for policy and decision making. More radically, future research could address business model innovation under the perspective of putting into question the dominant paradigm of exponential growth. This long-term programmatic research about business models also has the potential to connect the two streams of research about enhancing eco-efficiency and limiting economic growth.