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Low carbon retrofit: attitudes and readiness within the social housing sector

William Swan (School of the Built Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK)
Les Ruddock (School of the Built Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK)
Luke Smith (Energy Efficiency Partnership for Buildings, London, UK)

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

ISSN: 0969-9988

Article publication date: 2 September 2013

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Abstract

Purpose

The study was designed to assess the attitudes, strategic readiness and drivers and barriers to the adoption of sustainable retrofit within the UK social housing sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was undertaken using a structured questionnaire that was completed by 130 providers of social housing.

Findings

The study showed that social housing providers were aware of the sustainable retrofit agenda, but with varying levels of strategic readiness. Immediate benefits to residents were seen as important drivers, as opposed to more remote issues such as climate change. The emerging nature of the sustainable retrofit market was seen as a major potential risk for residents.

Research limitations/implications

The study represents a snap-shot of adoption and effectiveness issues, therefore does not show the trajectory of adoption which should be addressed in a follow-up study.

Practical implications

The social housing sector has been viewed as a market maker for the sustainable retrofit market. The study shows the attitudes of the sector to this role.

Social implications

The study has implications for the understanding social housing providers’ engagement with the sustainable retrofit market to address fuel poverty and climate change. Social housing's role as market maker has implications for policies such as Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.

Originality/value

The study covers approximately 20 per cent of the social housing stock under management and gives a robust perspective of current views on adoption and effectiveness of retrofit technologies within the social housing sector. This is useful for both other social housing providers and policy makers.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The study team would like to thank Fusion21 and Procurement for Housing for their support in this study. This work was undertaken as part of the Technology Strategy Board's Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme.

Citation

Swan, W., Ruddock, L. and Smith, L. (2013), "Low carbon retrofit: attitudes and readiness within the social housing sector", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 522-535. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-12-2012-0112

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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