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These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom

Deborah Morgan Orcid Logo, Carol Maddock Orcid Logo, Charles B.A. Musselwhite

Energy Research and Social Science, Volume: 111, Start page: 103462

Swansea University Authors: Deborah Morgan Orcid Logo, Carol Maddock Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103462

Abstract

Retrofitting existing homes with new energy efficient technologies is essential to reduce emissions and move towards achieving a ‘net zero’ carbon emission target. This paper reports on research that investigated the process of retrofitting new technologies in existing social rented homes in Wales,...

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Published in: Energy Research and Social Science
ISSN: 2214-6296
Published: Elsevier BV 2024
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66547
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This paper reports on research that investigated the process of retrofitting new technologies in existing social rented homes in Wales, United Kingdom. It used mixed-methods consisting of pre- and post-retrofit surveys, qualitative interviews with tenants, and a documentary analysis of retrofit tenant engagement materials. Interviews and focus groups were also undertaken with a variety of professionals involved in the delivery of the new technology, including tenant liaison officers, architects, surveyors, and a civil servant.Findings reveal that many of the barriers to deploying new technologies in social rented properties were around communication and information issues. The interface between the technology and residents was a challenge as mechanisms of the new technologies operation and sensors and monitoring were not understood well and residents were kept out of the loop often through digital exclusion. Disruption to norms, the home and everyday practices were also key barriers. Facilitators to successful deployment of new technologies included good tenant engagement, demonstrating and showcasing the technology prior to deployment and actively reducing disruption to norms and practices.Social Practices Theory and Energies Culture Framework describe the findings well, especially around changes in material culture (the actual technology and hardware) and disruption to norms and social practices, which explains how the use of the technology by the residents notably changes and can disrupt their lives. These disruptions create anxiety creating further barriers which can lead to resistance to engaging with the technology. Better communication and more resident involvement and engagement are needed, allowing people ownership and some perceived control over the decision-making, deployment and changes happening to their everyday lives.Findings suggest that communications and trust in the retrofit process are crucial to the success of delivering low-carbon technologies to tenants in social housing. The technology must also be usable and understood by the tenants; exemplar demonstrator properties to help tenants see and understand the technologies are helpful to successful deployment. In conclusion, more involvement of tenants is needed when delivering low-carbon technologies to their homes to resolve further exacerbating the already noticeable inequalities.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Energy Research and Social Science</journal><volume>111</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>103462</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>Elsevier BV</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>2214-6296</issnPrint><issnElectronic/><keywords>Low carbon; Retrofit; Social housing; Energy cultures framework; Wales; UK</keywords><publishedDay>1</publishedDay><publishedMonth>5</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2024</publishedYear><publishedDate>2024-05-01</publishedDate><doi>10.1016/j.erss.2024.103462</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Health and Social Care School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>HSOC</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal)</apcterm><funders>Swansea University</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2024-06-17T15:40:11.0489863</lastEdited><Created>2024-05-31T13:28:42.8492325</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Health and Social Care - Public Health</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Deborah</firstname><surname>Morgan</surname><orcid>0000-0002-3107-3945</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Carol</firstname><surname>Maddock</surname><orcid>0000-0001-8039-1854</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Charles B.A.</firstname><surname>Musselwhite</surname><order>3</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>66547__30497__47c4090c96ae4af6ba78ff0a6146630f.pdf</filename><originalFilename>66547.VoR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2024-05-31T13:31:38.9540663</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>490020</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>© 2024 The Authors. 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spelling v2 66547 2024-05-31 These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom 6ab809844c56957c0e9773518a251516 0000-0002-3107-3945 Deborah Morgan Deborah Morgan true false 018927565a5521af672be8edc1a2b08d 0000-0001-8039-1854 Carol Maddock Carol Maddock true false 2024-05-31 HSOC Retrofitting existing homes with new energy efficient technologies is essential to reduce emissions and move towards achieving a ‘net zero’ carbon emission target. This paper reports on research that investigated the process of retrofitting new technologies in existing social rented homes in Wales, United Kingdom. It used mixed-methods consisting of pre- and post-retrofit surveys, qualitative interviews with tenants, and a documentary analysis of retrofit tenant engagement materials. Interviews and focus groups were also undertaken with a variety of professionals involved in the delivery of the new technology, including tenant liaison officers, architects, surveyors, and a civil servant.Findings reveal that many of the barriers to deploying new technologies in social rented properties were around communication and information issues. The interface between the technology and residents was a challenge as mechanisms of the new technologies operation and sensors and monitoring were not understood well and residents were kept out of the loop often through digital exclusion. Disruption to norms, the home and everyday practices were also key barriers. Facilitators to successful deployment of new technologies included good tenant engagement, demonstrating and showcasing the technology prior to deployment and actively reducing disruption to norms and practices.Social Practices Theory and Energies Culture Framework describe the findings well, especially around changes in material culture (the actual technology and hardware) and disruption to norms and social practices, which explains how the use of the technology by the residents notably changes and can disrupt their lives. These disruptions create anxiety creating further barriers which can lead to resistance to engaging with the technology. Better communication and more resident involvement and engagement are needed, allowing people ownership and some perceived control over the decision-making, deployment and changes happening to their everyday lives.Findings suggest that communications and trust in the retrofit process are crucial to the success of delivering low-carbon technologies to tenants in social housing. The technology must also be usable and understood by the tenants; exemplar demonstrator properties to help tenants see and understand the technologies are helpful to successful deployment. In conclusion, more involvement of tenants is needed when delivering low-carbon technologies to their homes to resolve further exacerbating the already noticeable inequalities. Journal Article Energy Research and Social Science 111 103462 Elsevier BV 2214-6296 Low carbon; Retrofit; Social housing; Energy cultures framework; Wales; UK 1 5 2024 2024-05-01 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103462 COLLEGE NANME Health and Social Care School COLLEGE CODE HSOC Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Swansea University 2024-06-17T15:40:11.0489863 2024-05-31T13:28:42.8492325 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Public Health Deborah Morgan 0000-0002-3107-3945 1 Carol Maddock 0000-0001-8039-1854 2 Charles B.A. Musselwhite 3 66547__30497__47c4090c96ae4af6ba78ff0a6146630f.pdf 66547.VoR.pdf 2024-05-31T13:31:38.9540663 Output 490020 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
spellingShingle These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
Deborah Morgan
Carol Maddock
title_short These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
title_full These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
title_fullStr These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
title_full_unstemmed These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
title_sort These are tenants not guinea pigs: Barriers and facilitators of retrofit in Wales, United Kingdom
author_id_str_mv 6ab809844c56957c0e9773518a251516
018927565a5521af672be8edc1a2b08d
author_id_fullname_str_mv 6ab809844c56957c0e9773518a251516_***_Deborah Morgan
018927565a5521af672be8edc1a2b08d_***_Carol Maddock
author Deborah Morgan
Carol Maddock
author2 Deborah Morgan
Carol Maddock
Charles B.A. Musselwhite
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container_title Energy Research and Social Science
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publishDate 2024
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hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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department_str School of Health and Social Care - Public Health{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Public Health
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description Retrofitting existing homes with new energy efficient technologies is essential to reduce emissions and move towards achieving a ‘net zero’ carbon emission target. This paper reports on research that investigated the process of retrofitting new technologies in existing social rented homes in Wales, United Kingdom. It used mixed-methods consisting of pre- and post-retrofit surveys, qualitative interviews with tenants, and a documentary analysis of retrofit tenant engagement materials. Interviews and focus groups were also undertaken with a variety of professionals involved in the delivery of the new technology, including tenant liaison officers, architects, surveyors, and a civil servant.Findings reveal that many of the barriers to deploying new technologies in social rented properties were around communication and information issues. The interface between the technology and residents was a challenge as mechanisms of the new technologies operation and sensors and monitoring were not understood well and residents were kept out of the loop often through digital exclusion. Disruption to norms, the home and everyday practices were also key barriers. Facilitators to successful deployment of new technologies included good tenant engagement, demonstrating and showcasing the technology prior to deployment and actively reducing disruption to norms and practices.Social Practices Theory and Energies Culture Framework describe the findings well, especially around changes in material culture (the actual technology and hardware) and disruption to norms and social practices, which explains how the use of the technology by the residents notably changes and can disrupt their lives. These disruptions create anxiety creating further barriers which can lead to resistance to engaging with the technology. Better communication and more resident involvement and engagement are needed, allowing people ownership and some perceived control over the decision-making, deployment and changes happening to their everyday lives.Findings suggest that communications and trust in the retrofit process are crucial to the success of delivering low-carbon technologies to tenants in social housing. The technology must also be usable and understood by the tenants; exemplar demonstrator properties to help tenants see and understand the technologies are helpful to successful deployment. In conclusion, more involvement of tenants is needed when delivering low-carbon technologies to their homes to resolve further exacerbating the already noticeable inequalities.
published_date 2024-05-01T15:40:09Z
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