The meaning of time in a cross-disciplinary arena project

Paper in proceeding, 2013

The lack of long-term strategies regarding energy efficiency of multi-family buildings in Europe has resulted in acute need of renovation of these structures. To meet sustainability targets and speed up renovation, the Swedish Government granted time-limited funding of collaborative energy-development projects. A longitudinal case study (2008-2010) of one of these projects, aimed at establishing a cross-disciplinary knowledge arena (researchers, practitioners and regulators) to enhance knowledge concerning energy efficient renovation of multi-family buildings is in focus. The aim of this paper has been to explore how conceptions of time, e.g. as idea, constraint and resource, are manifest in the unfolding of the arena project. The study draws on qualitative analysis of 18 in-depth interviews with actors from the participating disciplines, observations of meetings and close-reading of project documents. The paper discusses prevalent contradictions between conceptions of time within the various social practices and mindsets of the involved parties, and how these have implicated the outcomes of the project.