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Understanding energy efficiency in Swedish residential building renovation : A practice theory approach

Palm, Jenny LU and Reindl, Katharina LU (2016) In Energy Research and Social Science 11. p.247-255
Abstract

Examining renovation processes having reduced energy consumption as an explicit goal, this article considers how energy efficiency is made part of renovation processes, focusing on the planning and design phase. Interviews and participant observations of meetings have been conducted. Applying a framework developed in practice theory, we demonstrate the importance of understanding routines, technology, meanings, and knowledge in order to understand why renovation processes repeat themselves and why a renovation practice are hard to change. The analysis shows that the professionals were only engaged in decisions in relation to their own specialized areas, which benefited established solutions. The existing technical infrastructure, such... (More)

Examining renovation processes having reduced energy consumption as an explicit goal, this article considers how energy efficiency is made part of renovation processes, focusing on the planning and design phase. Interviews and participant observations of meetings have been conducted. Applying a framework developed in practice theory, we demonstrate the importance of understanding routines, technology, meanings, and knowledge in order to understand why renovation processes repeat themselves and why a renovation practice are hard to change. The analysis shows that the professionals were only engaged in decisions in relation to their own specialized areas, which benefited established solutions. The existing technical infrastructure, such as the HVAC shafts and the district heating system, largely determined what issues were up for discussion. It was clear that practical know-how were valued much higher than theoretical knowledge. The meaning of an energy efficient renovations for the professionals was to reduce the energy consumed as much as possible in every renovated building. With this in mind, we were surprised by how little energy efficiency was on the agenda. We can conclude that there was nothing in the studied processes that could trigger changes and dislodge the inertia of the practice.

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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Energy efficiency, Multi-family dwellings, Practice theory, Renovation
in
Energy Research and Social Science
volume
11
pages
9 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84948417759
ISSN
2214-6296
DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2015.11.006
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
084b113a-6eac-44fd-b84e-30b62da8f1f0
date added to LUP
2019-03-11 14:35:57
date last changed
2022-04-25 22:03:31
@article{084b113a-6eac-44fd-b84e-30b62da8f1f0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Examining renovation processes having reduced energy consumption as an explicit goal, this article considers how energy efficiency is made part of renovation processes, focusing on the planning and design phase. Interviews and participant observations of meetings have been conducted. Applying a framework developed in practice theory, we demonstrate the importance of understanding routines, technology, meanings, and knowledge in order to understand why renovation processes repeat themselves and why a renovation practice are hard to change. The analysis shows that the professionals were only engaged in decisions in relation to their own specialized areas, which benefited established solutions. The existing technical infrastructure, such as the HVAC shafts and the district heating system, largely determined what issues were up for discussion. It was clear that practical know-how were valued much higher than theoretical knowledge. The meaning of an energy efficient renovations for the professionals was to reduce the energy consumed as much as possible in every renovated building. With this in mind, we were surprised by how little energy efficiency was on the agenda. We can conclude that there was nothing in the studied processes that could trigger changes and dislodge the inertia of the practice.</p>}},
  author       = {{Palm, Jenny and Reindl, Katharina}},
  issn         = {{2214-6296}},
  keywords     = {{Energy efficiency; Multi-family dwellings; Practice theory; Renovation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  pages        = {{247--255}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Research and Social Science}},
  title        = {{Understanding energy efficiency in Swedish residential building renovation : A practice theory approach}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2015.11.006}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.erss.2015.11.006}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}