A Social Learning Tool – Barriers and Opportunities for Collective Occupant Learning in Low Carbon Housing

Abstract

The effectiveness of the collective learning that takes place in modern housing developments can play a major role in terms of housing performance. Building performance evaluation (BPE) currently does not address the type and quality of collective learning processes happening within a community in relation to occupants using their new homes. A Social Learning Tool is proposed to extend BPE methodology and provide a framework to help researchers better understand the nature and degree of home user collective learning and community involvement which can in turn enhance the BPE process. A first partial application of the tool to six case study dwellings within a low carbon development in Leeds allowed identification of barriers and opportunities for collective learning.