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Transition to low carbon? An analysis of socio-technical change in housing renovation

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  • Ralph Horne

    (Design and Social Context, RMIT University, Australia)

  • Tony Dalton

    (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Centre, RMIT University, Australia)

Abstract

Across the westernised world, concerns about climate change and resource scarcity point to the need for widescale changes in housing renovation. Through the exploration of social interactions of eco-renovation businesses on the ground, the paper presents evidence for the emergence of an ‘eco-renovation niche’ consisting of both traditional and new types of housing industry businesses. However, this niche is not clearly bounded, stable or homogenous, and so generalised ideas about how it may grow in scale or size are problematic. Niche participants typically wish to stay small. Also, complex household relations are involved, and hands-on experimentation is a feature of the industry participants. For policy purposes, this suggests a need to focus on strategic intermediaries in industry and professional associations, licensing bodies and regulators, who could in turn support programmes that more adequately recognise the modus operandi of the industry, households and civil society organisations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ralph Horne & Tony Dalton, 2014. "Transition to low carbon? An analysis of socio-technical change in housing renovation," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(16), pages 3445-3458, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:51:y:2014:i:16:p:3445-3458
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098013516684
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    6. Geels, Frank W., 2004. "From sectoral systems of innovation to socio-technical systems: Insights about dynamics and change from sociology and institutional theory," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6-7), pages 897-920, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kivimaa, Paula & Boon, Wouter & Hyysalo, Sampsa & Klerkx, Laurens, 2019. "Towards a typology of intermediaries in sustainability transitions: A systematic review and a research agenda," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 1062-1075.
    2. Michelsen, Claus & El-Shagi, Makram & Rosenschon, Sebastian, 2016. "The diffusion of "green'' buildings in the housing market: empirics on the long run effects of energy efficiency regulation," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145534, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    3. Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Balezentis, 2019. "Innovative Policy Schemes to Promote Renovation of Multi-Flat Residential Buildings and Address the Problems of Energy Poverty of Aging Societies in Former Socialist Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, April.

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