Berry, S; Sharp, A; Hamilton, J and Killip, G (2014) Inspiring low-energy retrofits: The influence of open home events. Building Research & Information, 42(4), pp. 422-433. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
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 Australia's 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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | energy; homeowners; housing; low carbon; motivation; social learning; stakeholders |
| Index terms: | behaviour change, renovation, technology adoption, low carbon, satisfaction, interview, drawing, social learning, homeowner, survey, behavioural change, housing, energy renovation, motivation, Australia, dataset |
| Subjects: | theoretical framing, psychology, sociology, construction type, sustainability assessment, Geography, data collection methods, project delivery, renovation and retrofit, technical documentation, data management, behavioral psychology, innovation and technology management |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Design Practice, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Project Management, Geographical Context, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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