How sociotechnical norms shape transition pathways
The co-evolution of three European heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) regimes
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13066541 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Donal Brown (0000-0001-9629-4936, University of Sussex, corresponding author), Mari Martiskainen (0000-0002-3503-9197, University of Sussex) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 107 |
| Pages | 103346-103346 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-20 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Energy Research & Social Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2214-6296 • E-ISSN: 2214-6326 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.erss.2023.103346 |
| OpenAlex | W4390021865 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 58 |
Countries across Europe have ambitious targets to become carbon neutral. This requires a transformation in the way buildings are heated, ventilated, and cooled (HVAC), with a move away from fossil fuels. Highly divergent pathways currently exist between different European HVAC regimes. However, few studies have examined these differences in detail, or the role of social norms in sustaining or changing HVAC regimes. This mixed methods study examines the decarbonisation of HVAC systems in three European countries of Finland, Greece and the United Kingdom. Based on a quantitative survey of n = 3478 households and 40 qualitative interviews with building users, managers, and designers, we find highly divergent HVAC regimes across the three countries with considerable variability in technologies, user practices, business strategies, institutions and their relationship to ecosystems. We also discover a shifting patchwork of normative perspectives to heating and cooling. These “socio-technical” norms are highly susceptible to peer influence, broader socio-economic and political drivers, and environmental factors such as climate change. Finally, we argue that an appreciation of how these socio-technical norms are formed and influenced, is an essential yet under-explored avenue in research and public policy on sustainability transitions
Air conditioning · Business · Climate change · Economic system · Economics · Environmental economics · Fuel poverty · HVAC · Normative · Political science · Sociotechnical system · Sustainability · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Engineering · Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Ecology
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| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2027 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |