1. Engaging with sustainable construction communication : the effects of tone, topic, and typeLea Primožič, Michael David Burnard, Andreja Kutnar, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: The built environment and the construction industry are responsible for a significant portion of global emissions. If climate goals are to be achieved, considerable changes must be made. It is important to strive for more sustainable practices across all sectors, including construction. Effective communication strategies play a crucial role in promoting sustainable construction; however, current communication efforts often lack targeted messages for key stakeholders. This study investigated how different message characteristics—tone (informational vs. emotional), topic (human health vs. cost effectiveness), and type (scientific vs. non-scientific)—in relation to sustainable construction concepts such as restorative environmental and ergonomic design (REED), influence professional stakeholder engagement. Methods: Lasswell’s model of communication from 1948 was used to identify the communicator, channel, and target audience. Communication messages and their effectiveness were tested using an online questionnaire with randomized controlled experiments. Eight communication messages were developed in order to test and compare all combinations of the three factors (tone, topic, and type). Responses were analysed using Bayesian ordinal regression. Results: Bayesian ordinal regression revealed that the effect of these factors varied based on the question asked. Of note, messages with a human health topic yielded greater agreement among respondents, indicating its importance in sustainable construction communication. Other effects differed across experimental conditions and response measures. Discussion: These findings provide suggestions for improving promotions of new concepts in sustainable construction and indicate that message framing plays an important role in shaping stakeholder responses in sustainable construction communication. In particular, health-related framing may be more effective in increasing engagement.
Keywords: communication, sustainable construction, REED
Published in RUP: 13.08.2026; Views: 192; Downloads: 8
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2. Consumer perceptions of wood as a material for sustainable building construction in SloveniaAna Slavec, Lea Primožič, Nežka Sajinčič, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: In the context of climate change, aligning residential building practices with environmental priorities is increasingly important. Wood products, with their lower carbon footprint compared to most alternatives, present a viable solution for more sustainable construction. However, consumer awareness of these benefits remains limited. While interest in sustainability is rising, many consumers still perceive wooden structures as less durable, more vulnerable to fire and earthquakes, harder to insulate, and more expensive to maintain. Additionally, environmental considerations often rank below cost, design, and durability when selecting materials for construction, furnishing, and renovations. To explore these perceptions, we conducted a quantitative survey in 2023 involving 1,009 participants from a representative marketing panel in Slovenia. The study assesses Slovenian consumers’ environmental identity, climate concerns, and the frequency of eco-friendly choices, while examining the importance of sustainability relative to other factors in home design decisions. We further analyse the prevalence of wood-based materials in Slovenian households and gather insights on attitudes toward wood in construction. Our findings highlight the need for targeted communication campaigns to address consumer misperceptions about wood’s durability and environmental benefits, drawing comparisons with past studies from other countries. This research provides actionable recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders to enhance consumer engagement and support the adoption of wood as a sustainable building material.
Keywords: survey research, wood, sustainable construction
Published in RUP: 23.12.2025; Views: 773; Downloads: 5
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3. BIM-based framework for estimating service life duration of wood construction elements under environmental exposureRichard Acquah, Jonas Niklewski, Anna Malgorzata Sandak, Jakub Michal Sandak, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: As the construction industry adopts more data-driven and sustainable practices, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is increasingly used for energy analysis, lifecycle management, and maintenance planning. However, its integration with service life performance analysis especially for wood, a material susceptible to environmental degradation remains limited. This study presents a BIM-based framework that incorporates wood-specific parameters such as environmental exposure, material properties, and design detailing to estimate the service life of wood construction elements. The framework is structured using ISO 15,686–4 principles and implemented through custom Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) property sets. A Revit plugin developed in C# integrates the model into the BIM environment. A case study of a wooden playhouse is used as a proof-of-concept to demonstrates the framework’s ability to evaluate the impact of design, material, and environmental factors on service life. The results confirm that the framework supports service life prediction and enhances decision-making for wood-based construction. Twenty-one-month observations align with predicted results. However, long-term (2–9 year) predictions remain unvalidated, requiring extended monitoring. By integration of the service life prediction for fungal decay into BIM it offers a practical and scalable tool to support service life–informed design and planning for wood structures.
Keywords: service life prediction, wood material durability, environmental exposure, wood 28 construction, sustainable construction, building information modelling (BIM)
Published in RUP: 24.11.2025; Views: 964; Downloads: 33
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