Exploring the practices and roles of UK construction manufacturers and merchants in relation to housing energy retrofit

Killip, Gavin; Owen, Alice; Topouzi, Marina

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119205

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…By contrast, “technical skills” were unique to a particular actor group. The definition of technical skills, however, was in agreement with existing literature (Killip et al , 2020), where the skills were linked to a knowledge or understanding of a type of technology. For further comparison, the results indicated diverse ideas and meanings associated with the required skills by key actors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Skills required to deliver energy efficient school retrofit buildings

Bevan

Sexton

2020

ECAM

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PurposeThe prevailing literature argues the need for “new” skills to deliver energy-efficient buildings. The concept of new skills, however, has not been subject to empirical investigation. This paper aims to provide insight on the required new skills, and their development and application, for the successful delivery of energy-efficient school retrofit buildings.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed a case study approach of a school retrofit building project in the early stages of the adoption of energy-efficient measures. Through the application of the socio-technical network approach (STNA) as the data collection and analysis framework, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations and a review of relevant organisational documentation and were analysed using thematic coding.FindingsThe findings reveal key actors (i.e. the local authority, energy contractors and school end-users), their principal interests and the required communication, project management, energy management, technical and research skills during their interactions in the successful delivery of the school retrofit building project. The results further reinforce the crucial role of the local authority in driving energy performance improvement of school buildings.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates empirical evidence of the principal actors and skills required for the delivery of energy-efficient school retrofit buildings, contributes to new theoretical insights at the identification of key micro-level development of construction skills through the project network and evidences on how the STNA can be mobilised in construction skills research.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Skills required to deliver energy efficient school retrofit buildings

Bevan

Sexton

2020

ECAM

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“…Their opportunity for influence appears to be greater sideways and downstream than upstream. There is a particular need for trade professionals to upskill since they have a direct influence on the likely success of bottom-up change, such as that instigated by householders (Janda & Killip 2013;Janda et al 2014;Wilson et al 2013;Wade et al 2016aWade et al , 2017aSimpson 2017;Killip et al 2020). Middle actors naturally aggregate knowledge from one project to the next and learn from experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…New collaborations and mutual learning between academia, training and multiple middle-actor parties in the industry could build capacity and enhance knowledge development for creating and maintaining a zero-carbon built environment. The progression to zero carbon requires that technologies and strategies be deployed at pace and with POE to evaluate physical performance continually (Killip et al 2020) and to ensure occupant satisfaction with the deployed products and design strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preparing ‘middle actors’ to deliver zero-carbon building transitions

Simpson

Janda

Owen

2020

Buildings and Cities

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The urgent transition to a zero-carbon economy requires building professionals to be supportive of, and prepared for, delivering zero-carbon buildings. Building professionals are important 'middle actors' who can either enable or inhibit such societal transitions. This paper explores building professionals' perspectives on delivering zero-carbon buildings, leading to a practical synthesis of knowledge and skill requirements and training pathways. It draws on the middle-out perspective (MOP) and secondary analysis of three UK case studies. The MOP suggests that middle actors in a system are not perfectly responsive to policy push or market pull. Instead, they exert their own agency and capacity downstream to customers and clients, sideways to other middle actors and, occasionally, upstream to policy-makers. The data comprise: interviews and a small survey with building professionals on energy efficiency and refurbishment; the observation of a specific commercial office building design and development and a workshop to identify zero-carbon knowledge and skill needs of middle actors. Building professionals addressed in this paper include vocational trades, engineers, designers, project managers and 'clerks of works' (site-based quality technicians). Although formal training pathways for these roles differ, each can develop expertise 'sideways' interacting between professions. Practice relevance • Collaboration between academia, vocational training and industry could support sideways initiatives to better enable delivery of zero-carbon buildings. • Policy-makers and regulators need to create routes to capture, listen to and use the perspectives of building professionals. At present, these actors have very little upstream influence. • Middle-actor groups in construction undertake different activities, but share training routes, knowledge support systems and professional networks. • These routes, systems and networks would allow actors to facilitate change from the 'middleout' in a way complementary to top-down change driven by policy and bottom-up changes led by citizens. • Training routes can include formal, on-the-job (informal) or e-learning. Prioritising on-the-job knowledge-sharing could promote upskilling. • Roles such as a clerk of works could assist in overseeing construction processes. • Vocational professionals are the priority group of middle actors to build capacity, knowledge and influence.

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“…Previous work has explored the middle-out requirements for building professionals acting within this space (Janda and Parag, 2012;Owen et al, 2020). To deliver desired outcomes from sustainable renovation, Killip et al (2020) suggested an approach to include routine postoccupancy monitoring of sustainable renovation projects to inform future work.…”

Section: Construction Training and Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections From Engaging a Network of Local Stakeholders in Discussing Training Needs for Sustainable Renovation

Simpson

Owen

2020

Front. Built Environ.

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Sustainable renovation of buildings is essential to create comfortable, affordable buildings fit for the future. Sustainable renovation delivers on a triple bottom line of improving environmental, social and economic impacts. There is a clear policy driver for reducing environmental impact in the form of carbon emissions and alongside achieving this homes and communities can become more comfortable places to live, creating jobs and economic value. The purpose of this paper is to share reflections from stakeholder engagement in identifying workforce training requirements and needs to achieve sustainable renovation. The paper stems from data collected in an exploratory workshop and follow up discussions gathering multiple construction stakeholders in Leeds, United Kingdom, early 2018. Participants represented a networked system of roles including policy influencers, procurement staff, training providers, employers and skilled professionals. These stakeholders identified two areas of training need for sustainable renovation: building performance and social value. Within these two themes, we consider potential training routes in delivery as well as incentives and opportunities. We hope this reflection offers a platform for further research, training and practice in developing environmental, social and economic benefits from building renovation.

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Exploring the practices and roles of UK construction manufacturers and merchants in relation to housing energy retrofit

Abstract: This is a repository copy of Exploring the practices and roles of UK construction manufacturers and merchants in relation to housing energy retrofit.

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

Skills required to deliver energy efficient school retrofit buildings

Skills required to deliver energy efficient school retrofit buildings

Preparing ‘middle actors’ to deliver zero-carbon building transitions

Reflections From Engaging a Network of Local Stakeholders in Discussing Training Needs for Sustainable Renovation

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