This study identifies socio-technical challenges and enablers in integrating Digital Product Passports (DPPs) into Digital Building Logbooks (DBLs) and develops a guiding framework. While both instruments advance with overlapping sustainability objectives at the policy level, their effective integration remains unresolved. Adopting a qualitative multiple-case study, we investigated four European DBL initiatives from Germany, the UK, France and Belgium through semi-structured interviews triangulated with secondary sources. Findings show that integration barriers are less technical, but more procedural, and organizational. Key challenges include absent ontologies and unstructured data, unclear responsibilities and weak incentives, and digital fatigue, low awareness, and role ambiguity. Enabling factors highlight regulatory support, market incentives, and user-centered design. We propose that DBLs should function as Systems of Systems, with four interdependent enablers, namely, regulation, standardization, interoperability, and simplicity as prerequisites for scalable, effective DPP–DBL integration. The framework informs policy, industry, and researchers and supports sustainability transitions in the built environment. ... Read more

This paper provides a holistic overview of the evolution of policies towards digitalising energy renovation processes in the European Union (EU). Since the European Green Deal initiative in 2019, EU policies have been increasingly addressing the digitalisation of the building industry to enable evidence-based decisions when tackling environmental challenges. To better understand the development(s) since, this paper integrates a structured policy analysis approach and critically reviews 31 EU policy documents on digitalisation and/or energy renovation. The analysis identified a growing number of policy instruments aimed at supporting a robust use of data, to, among others, improve decision-making and information sharing throughout the energy renovation process. These include Energy Performance Certificate, Building Renovation Passport, Smart Readiness Indicators, Level(s), Digital Building Logbook, Digital Product Passport, Digital Twin, Building Information Modelling, and Digital Permitting. While each of these nine instruments can independently facilitate decision-making on sustainable and/or smart renovations, they also project a significant degree of complementarity between each other. To that, this paper presents the Digital Energy Renovation Framework, which comprehensively synthesises the (inter)relationships between the proposed policy instruments with respect to facilitating energy renovation processes. A key finding is that the integration between the Building Renovation Passport and a data-rich Digital Building Logbook is fundamental to maximise the impact on decision-making throughout the renovation process. To achieve this, ensuring coherence and interoperability of data throughout the renovation value chain is crucial, with the standardisation of data formats and protocols being essential for effective data gathering and processing across these instruments. ... Read more

Digital building logbooks (DBLs) are designed to provide a platform to ease data sharing among stakeholders between and beyond the architecture, engineering, construction and operation sectors. However, there is a gap in understanding among stakeholders regarding their roles and the overlaps and differences in the data they need. This paper provides a new framework to DBL stakeholder mapping that facilitates the identification of stakeholders necessary for effective data exchange and efficient decision-making at different phases across the building lifecycle. This approach defines the roles of the stakeholders as data providers, data users or both. ... Read more

This paper introduces a comprehensive Digital Building Logbook (DBL) framework aimed at addressing challenges in managing extensive data generated throughout the lifecycle of modern buildings. The framework establishes a fundamental structure, defining primary valuable data for DBLs to enhance the value of buildings or dwellings. It delineates essential data elements, guides stakeholder prioritization and engagement, and outlines effective storage methods. Additionally, we propose potential applications of the framework in real-world scenarios, extracted from the analysis of existing DBL implementations. This contribution significantly advances the AECO sectors by providing a structured approach to DBL development, offering early insights for future implementations. ... Read more