Understanding PV Professional Practice and Translation in the UK Low Carbon Community Housing

Housing is responsible for one-third of CO2 emission in the Western world, yet there is still limited understanding of why housing often uses up to three or more times the amount of energy than predicted by simulation, resulting in a performance gap. Previous studies have examined the role of various intermediary actors (both human and non-human) in shaping the professional governance of PV systems only in the provision stage, this study combines Actor Network Theory (ANT) and Practice Theory to explore the role of these intermediaries, or/and other intermediaries, during the occupation stage, a vital omission in the previous PV studies. To achieve this aim, 38 semi-structured interviews and 18 video tours were used in 6 case study housing projects in the UK (4 participative and 2 non-participative projects). Key findings indicate the significant role of the non-human intermediaries in impacting the system design and use beside human intermediaries. PO was the most significant human intermediaries in both the design and use stages, while FIT, location and aesthetic values were the key non-human intermediaries. New intermediaries are needed in particular for the utilisation of PV products, practices, and energy use management.