Lovisa Högberg

Tell us about Lovisa Högberg.

I am 38 years old and originally from Gävle, but I currently live in Östersund, where I have been working as a lecturer in economics at Mittuniversitetet since 2016. Before that, I was a doctoral student and then a researcher in property economics at KTH. When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my dog. I also enjoy culture, being in nature (especially in the snow), exercising, and occasionally training others at Friskis & Svettis or within Friluftsfrämjandet.

Describe your research.

I defended my dissertation titled "Building Sustainability: Studies on incentives in construction and management of real estate," which includes articles on topics such as energy efficiency, certification systems, and social sustainability. The dissertation primarily focuses on the perspectives of property owners and investors (those who have significant influence) - what incentives do they have to act sustainably? My research has covered various types of properties, but it has mainly addressed existing buildings and housing. The focus has evolved from a relatively strict environmental sustainability perspective to a more multidimensional sustainability approach that also highlights social and economic sustainability for different actors.

What sparked your interest in this field?

I had studied Political Science with a major in Economics and had always been interested in sustainability. I wanted to move towards urban development, a more concrete and applied field that interested me because it impacts so many people. Then, a doctoral position on sustainable renovation at KTH emerged, and even though I had never considered research before, it felt like it was a perfect fit for me. Since then, it has turned out that there are many fascinating areas within this field of application.

Why is your research needed?

Properties and housing are complex in that they fulfill many simultaneous needs, from being a home for a student to being an investment for a pension fund manager, and everything in between. Additionally, different actors have different time perspectives, even for the same property, and new forms of housing and premises replace each other. This often gives rise to conflicting interests and creates challenges, so there is a need to explore various questions in order to find long-term sustainable solutions that benefit society as a whole.

How do you allocate your time between research and teaching?

Most of my time is dedicated to teaching and administrative tasks, such as being the subject representative in economics. However, I usually manage to allocate 10-20% of my time to research in various projects or to write research grant applications.

Dream scenario in terms of your job?

To have more research time and delve into current challenges that affect people who are not always the most visible or heard, such as by leading a large research project where researchers from different disciplines can collaborate to find solutions to housing and property issues outside larger cities. Discussing such issues with colleagues, students, and the surrounding community is a bonus that provides added value for me personally, as well as insights and dissemination to the research.