Erwin Mlecnik

Improving passive house certification: recommendations based on end-user experiences

The house construction sector in Europe is facing the need to meet stricter energy requirements. For example, some customers are demanding passive houses with almost no demand for space heating. Passive house quality assurance systems have been introduced to certify the energy performance of such houses. The aim of this study was to identify opportunities for improving passive house certification in line with customers comfort expectations. Questionnaires, site visits and interviews were carried out to identify and assess the comfort concerns of owner-occupiers in certified single-family passive houses in Flanders, northern Belgium. The results show that certified passive houses in Flanders are well rated and perceived as very comfortable. However, there were some cases where comfort concerns were expressed related to perceived flaws in the design or construction of the building services. In particular, the study recommends incorporating criteria for the planning and installation of user-friendly ventilation systems into passive house certification and providing end-users with better information.

Activating the adoption of innovation: lessons from a passive house network

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore innovation adoption theory and to define a model to investigate operational activities and communication in innovation networks that can stimulate both supply and demand. It also aims to exemplify this model with the activities of an innovation network dedicated to promoting passive houses. Design/methodology/approach – Autoethnography and literature research were used to develop a model in order to conduct a structured analysis of operational activities and facilitate innovation-decision processes using networks. Data on the activities used to steer client decisions and businesses’ innovation were gathered from network archives and from the results of social research methods applied within a passive house network. Findings – The findings reveal that operational activities of multiplayer networks should focus on reinforcing conditions and communicative activities that support innovation-decision processes from one step to the next. In order to activate supply and demand communication strategies can be modelled to increase the adoption of innovation and continued knowledge generation in networks. Research limitations/implications – Because only one network was evaluated and only the housing sector was exemplified it may not be possible to generalise the research results. Researchers are therefore encouraged to test the proposed model further. Practical implications – The paper includes the implications of developing activities in innovation networks in order to guide both businesses and customers through the steps of the adoption-decision process. Social implications – The paper provides insights regarding the uptake of innovation in the construction sector beyond demonstration projects. Originality/value – This paper connects the innovation adoption to activities of a network in the field of construction.