Murtagh, N, Owen, A orcid.org/0000-0002-1240-9319 and Simpson, K (2021) What motivates building repair-maintenance practitioners to include or avoid energy efficiency measures? Evidence from three studies in the United Kingdom. Energy Research and Social Science, 73 (1). 101943. ISSN 2214-6296
Abstract
Domestic energy-efficiency retrofit is an essential component of achievement of UK decarbonisation policy targets. UK policy strategy however has tended to focus on technology and new-build, with the implication of inadequate engagement with issues relating to the practitioners in the repair-maintenance-improvement (RMI) sector who work on energy-efficiency retrofit of the existing building stock. Addressing a gap in the literature on deep understanding of what is important to these practitioners, the study offers a novel application of a theoretical framework of behaviour change. Three datasets were aggregated, of semi-structured interviews with RMI practitioners around the UK. Template analysis was applied to the 31 transcripts. Focusing on motivation, evidence was found for motivations including pride in work, variety and challenge, working independently, maintaining a viable business, positive working relationships and customer satisfaction. Personal commitment to energy efficiency and co-benefits such as reduced condensation were additional motivating factors. Demotivations, which encouraged behaviour away from greater energy efficiency, included perceptions of increased cost, lack of confidence in technical standards, habit, and perceived burden of compliance. Implications for policy are proposed, including a reminder that profit is not necessarily a primary motivator for micro-enterprises, that changing attitudes is as important as providing information, and that all aspects of the context in which RMI practitioners operate must be considered in order to formulate effective policy.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of an article published in Energy Research and Social Science. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Behavior change; Energy efficiency policy; Energy retrofit; Micro-enterprise; Motivation; Repair-maintain-improve practitioner |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Sainsburys Family Charitable Trusts No External Ref EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) EP/L024756/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 20 Jan 2021 09:39 |
Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2022 01:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.erss.2021.101943 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:170121 |
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