Parnell, Rosemary (2004) Engaging homeowners in energy efficient home improvement. PhD thesis, University of Sheffield.
Abstract
The UK housing stock suffers from one of the lowest energy efficiency levels in Europe.
This results in high annual carbon dioxide emissions and the grave problem of fuel
poverty. While new dwellings achieve a certain level of energy efficiency through the
standards enforced by the Building Regulations, the rate of replacement of the existing
inefficient stock is extremely low. Significant improvements are possible through
refurbishment, providing appropriate resources are available. But in a society where
homeownership accounts for 70% of the total number of households, the future of most
UK housing depends upon the will of private homeowners. While the political climate
does not support the introduction of legislation to enforce retrospective energy
standards in dwellings, the only realistic means to achieve the goal of an energy
efficient homeowner-stock is to engage homeowners in the process, through energy
efficient home-improvement. This is the challenge that drives this study.
The thesis draws on interviews with relevant domestic energy efficiency programme
providers and previous research within a variety of disciplines, in order to build an
integrated conceptual framework for the design of domestic energy efficiency
information and advice programmes for owner-occupiers. The thesis argues that an
everyday householder-centred approach be taken by experts in the development of
programmes, in order to increase the likelihood of engaging householders.
The study focuses on the use of the Home Energy Report as a vehicle for providing
information and advice. The proposed conceptual framework is compared with the
views of homeowner-occupiers who have received such reports from their mortgage
lenders in order to find support for and to further refine the framework themes. The
study concludes with a series of recommendations for the development of the
Government's proposed seller's pack home energy report programme based on the
everyday householder-centred approach.
Metadata
Awarding institution: | University of Sheffield |
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Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > School of Architecture (Sheffield) |
Identification Number/EthosID: | uk.bl.ethos.398378 |
Depositing User: | EThOS Import Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 03 Nov 2016 12:40 |
Last Modified: | 03 Nov 2016 12:40 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:etheses.whiterose.ac.uk:14677 |
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