When sustainable technologies are ignored. Socio-technical systems thinking, construction and sustainable development

Achieving sustainable futures requires the construction industry to employ digitalization processes, appropriate procurement methods and innovative technologies. However, sustainable technologies in the built environment are often ignored and under-used by clients and users of buildings and facilities, meaning the benefits of sustainable technologies can be missed. This paper provides reflections of one such technology as experienced by the author: a digital toilet installed in a hotel. Through an autoethnographic approach, the paper mobilises socio-technical systems thinking to examine and analyze the digital technology in-situ to identify factors leading to a negative experience from the authors` perspective. The socio-technical systems analysis identifies several issues to explain its’ non-functioning status: these revolving around people; goals; culture; technology; processes/procedures and buildings/infrastructure. The analysis provides a framework for both retrospective review and upgrading of existing technologies and an assistive tool to assist in the planning, design and installation of new sustainable technologies in the future. A discussion explores the issues further in respect to construction project industries and their role in addressing the issues identified. It is contended that achieving sustainable futures requires both predictive analysis of new technologies in the built environment and retrospective review and adaptation of technologies already in our built environment.