RESEARCH AND OUTPUTS
Our Research Focus
Beyond our community operations, BOEE undertakes significant research on environmental and economic adaptation, primarily within New Zealand. Our research aims to address complex issues where the costs and benefits of an activity are distributed unevenly among different parties.
Current Projects
We are currently investigating several 'wicked' problems. These are challenges characterized by their complexity and the disparate distribution of costs and benefits.
Example: Rental Housing In the rental housing market, there is often a disparity between landlords and tenants regarding the quality of housing and associated costs. Due to a housing shortage, some landlords charge high rents for low-quality housing that is cold, damp, or leaky. These landlords are reluctant to invest in efficient heating solutions like heat pumps or pellet burners, leading tenants to use less efficient heaters that are more expensive to run. The poor insulation and single glazing of such houses mean that most generated heat is lost, resulting in high heating costs and poor health outcomes for tenants, while landlords reap the rental income benefits.
Our Current Projects Include:
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Economic Study on Community Benefits: Assessing the economic advantages that well-supported communities can offer.
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Closing the Loop on Plastics: Developing strategies to reduce plastic waste through improved recycling and reuse practices.
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Reuse of Waste: Exploring innovative methods to repurpose waste materials, thereby reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability.
Impact and Goals
Our research projects aim to identify practical solutions that can be implemented to mitigate these 'wicked' problems. By focusing on both environmental and economic aspects, we strive to create pathways for sustainable development and social equity.
Much of this work is subject to non-disclosure agreements and is only public after the projects are completed.