Knowledge Management in Renovation and Refurbishment Projects: Barriers and Opportunities for Energy Efficiency Decision-Making

Sammanfattning

Energy efficiency in renovation and refurbishment projects is important for reducing energy use and supporting sustainability goals in the building sector. These projects require access to several types of knowledge, such as technical expertise, previous project experiences, organizational routines, and specific project information. However, such knowledge can be difficult to structure, access, share, and reuse across projects in project-based construction organizations. This thesis investigates how knowledge related to energy efficiency is accessed, shared, and used in renovation and refurbishment projects, as well as what barriers and opportunities for improvement exist in current knowledge management practices. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study of Riksbyggen, a Swedish cooperative company working with construction, property development, and property management. Empirical data were collected from eight semi-structured interviews with nine respondents, including both specialists and project managers. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that knowledge related to energy efficiency exists within the organization, but that its practical use is limited by fragmented documentation, information overload, varying documentation quality, unclear responsibilities, and dependence on individual employees. Formal systems and documentation are available, but employees often rely on informal communication and personal networks, since these are perceived as faster and more practical than formal systems. While this supports short-term problem solving, it creates long-term risks related to person-dependence, uneven access to expertise, and knowledge loss. The study concludes that Riksbyggen should not primarily focus on producing more documentation. Instead, existing knowledge needs to be made more accessible, validated, structured, and reusable across projects. Clearer responsibilities, shared routines, and more systematic reuse of project experiences are needed to support more consistent decision-making related to energy efficiency. Digital and AI-supported tools may support this work, but only if the underlying organizational knowledge is reliable, structured, and traceable.