Gavin Killip

Transition Management Using a Market Transformation Approach: Lessons for Theory, Research, and Practice from the Case of Low-Carbon Housing Refurbishment in the UK

Work on target-led transitions has highlighted the interdependence between ‘niche’ and ‘regime’ actors in steering change towards strategic goals. Similarly, market transformation (MT) has a long history in product markets, improving the energy efficiency of stocks of energy-using appliances through research, minimum standards, energy labels, incentives, procurement, competitions, and stakeholder networks. Attempts to apply MT to buildings have failed to fully take account of the differences between appliance markets and the multiple markets which frame energy use in buildings. The case of refurbishment of UK housing is considered here, for which there is a system of different markets in operation. MT principles are considered in relation to the sources and diffusion of innovation in project-based industries; the management of different expectations among innovators and incumbents; technical risks associated with doing low-carbon refurbishment work; and the role of policy in simultaneously stimulating supply and demand. An iterative process with feedback loops and coordination is proposed to link training, standard-setting, and compliance checks. No institutional infrastructure exists for such an enterprise, which would need to cross established boundaries between regime actors. The case of UK housing refurbishment throws up lessons for theory, research, and practice which could be developed through further case studies.

Inspiring low-energy retrofits: the influence of ‘open home’ events

‘Eco open home’ events showcase environmentally sustainable home renovations and retrofits. The role of these events is explored for imparting motivation and accelerating behavioural change to the event visitors for undertaking their own low-energy retrofits. Drawing on a wide range of visitor survey datasets, these community-led and locally situated events are analyzed from a social learning perspective, focusing on the visitor experiences, and the role that open home events have as situated learning, embracing the power of storytelling. Using a ‘Many Sets of Data’ approach, data are examined from three years of Australias largest eco open home event, and visitor survey and interview reports from seven different UK eco open home events, highlighting visitor characteristics and experiences, and post-visit levels of technology adoption and behaviour change. The research finds a consistent positive experience for attendees, most of whom are homeowners already engaged on their journey of eco-home renovation. The high degree of satisfaction from attending eco open home events, combined with the high rates of perceived learning, and the track record of post-event renovation action demonstrate that these events encourage and support engaged attendees to undertake low-energy renovations.

Anatomy of low carbon retrofits: evidence from owner-occupied Superhomes

A small number of ‘Superhome’ owners in the UK have renovated their homes to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% or more. Superhome owner-occupiers, their homes and various aspects of their retrofit are characterized including the timing, planning, motivation, costs and interactions with professionals, and lessons drawn from this specialized group for the wider population. Research is based on a survey of 57 Superhome owners and 14 more detailed interviews. Compared with typical owner-occupiers, Superhome owners are on average younger, better educated, living in larger household groups and larger homes, and have higher incomes. However, there is considerable variation between households. Two main routes to retrofit were identified: planned and emergent, with emergent retrofits taking longer to complete, stretching over many years in some cases. Householder levels of knowledge and involvement in planning and managing the retrofit were high. Most commonly, paid professionals did most or some of the retrofit work, but many projects included some DIY. Significantly, their decisions are not made as ‘rational economic actors’; instead motivations were multiple and included environmental concern, desire for improved comfort and living standards, reducing waste and saving on energy costs. Questions for further research are identified, as are suggestions for policy development.