Transition towards low energy housing: Implementing energy efficiency in a large-scale refurbishment project

Panel: 3. Local action and national examples

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Josefin Thoresson, Linköping University Department of thematic studies - Technology and social change, Sweden

Abstract

Refurbishment for reduced energy consumption in post-war residential areas is a hot topic. There are policies promoting transition towards low-energy consuming buildings and demonstration projects that show how to achieve these refurbishments. In most cases, it is not a matter of technical difficulty. However, policies for energy efficiency and the demonstration of related measures and practices often fail when it comes to realizing large-scale refurbishment projects. Why does this happen? In order to understand and overcome the gap between high national energy efficiency goals and their implementation in real refurbishment projects, we must look more closely at local planning practices and implementation processes. This will also shed light on the social context.

This paper draws attention to an ongoing large-scale, low-energy refurbishment process in a residential area with 600 dwellings in Gävle, Sweden, which has a goal to implement energy-efficient technologies. What are the factors for success and implementation in this case? Preliminary results from extensive current empirical work emphasize joint collaboration with municipal authorities, which facilitates the decision making needed to overcome institutional barriers. The process is also characterized by user involvement based on a model for end-user participation.