Moving home: Houses, new occupants and the formation of heating practices

Rinkinen, J and Jalas, M (2017) Moving home: Houses, new occupants and the formation of heating practices. Building Research & Information, 45(3), pp. 293-302. ISSN 0961-3218

Abstract

This paper examines the formation of heating practices at the time of moving house. Interviews on occupant changes in Finnish single-family houses with a focus on heating arrangements and thermal comfort reveal that practice formation in and around occupant changes is a complex process of aligning elements where the house stands out as a coordinative and coordinated aggregate. As houses pass from one set of occupants to the next, they carry practices and delineate new ways of operation to the new occupants. The study demonstrates the temporal unfolding of the hidden complexity to what seems like a straightforward process of residents interacting with a new heating system and home. The findings contribute to the understanding of the domestic sphere as a space for practice formation.;This paper examines the formation of heating practices at the time of moving house. Interviews on occupant changes in Finnish single-family houses with a focus on heating arrangements and thermal comfort reveal that practice formation in and around occupant changes is a complex process of aligning elements where the house stands out as a coordinative and coordinated aggregate. As houses pass from one set of occupants to the next, they carry practices and delineate new ways of operation to the new occupants. The study demonstrates the temporal unfolding of the hidden complexity to what seems like a straightforward process of residents interacting with a new heating system and home. The findings contribute to the understanding of the domestic sphere as a space for practice formation.;This paper examines the formation of heating practices at the time of moving house. Interviews on occupant changes in Finnish single-family houses with a focus on heating arrangements and thermal comfort reveal that practice formation in and around occupant changes is a complex process of aligning elements where the house stands out as a coordinative and coordinated aggregate. As houses pass from one set of occupants to the next, they carry practices and delineate new ways of operation to the new occupants. The study demonstrates the temporal unfolding of the hidden complexity to what seems like a straightforward process of residents interacting with a new heating system and home. The findings contribute to the understanding of the domestic sphere as a space for practice formation.;

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: occupant behaviour; retrofit; energy refurbishment; social practices; time; thermal comfort; homeowners; space heating; public policy; energy; comfort; construction & building technology; residential areas; houses; housing; heating; complexity
Index terms: homeowner, space heating, public policy, comfort, occupant behaviour, social practice, aggregate, heating system, residential area, complexity, energy refurbishment, interview, thermal comfort, building technology, housing
Subjects: environmental engineering, energy systems, construction type, social theory, zoning, data collection methods, materials science, engineering systems, public policy, systems engineering, mechanical systems, occupational health and safety management, sociology, design practice, health behaviours and lifestyles
Topics: Urban Studies, Stakeholder Management, Governance, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Design Practice, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Engineering Principles
Descriptive scope: 4 PCTE

N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here