Abstract
Low carbon housing policies embody visions of the future that shape and constrain current choices between different technological pathways. These socio-technical imaginaries include expectations around new ways of living and interacting with technology, with implications for everyday lives. This paper investigates existing expert visions of low carbon housing, and explores these futures with members of the public; utilising empirical data from policy documents, expert interviews and public focus groups. Two competing expert visions of low carbon housing were identified: Passivhaus and Smart Homes. Whilst portrayed as divergent futures, both visions aimed to ‘design out’ the role of occupants, achieving emissions reductions through changes to the built environment and maintaining current lifestyles; a position that was reinforced by an imagined public that was unable or unwilling to accept the need for lifestyle change. This construction of the public did not consider the complex personal and cultural dimensions that influenced public acceptability of future housing: specifically surrounding themes of comfort, control and security that arose within the focus groups. The tensions arising between expert and public imaginaries highlight the difficulties that may surround any transition towards a low carbon future and demonstrate the need to work with, rather than around, the public.
Highlights
Accounting for 23% of national carbon emissions [11] and 29% of total energy consumption [18], housing is a crucial site for achieving emissions reductions if the ambitious 80% target set out within the UK Climate Change Act 2008 is to be met
The first aim of this paper is to explore the socio-technical imaginaries of a low carbon housing future, paying particular attention to the links between these visions of the future and the imagined publics that inhabit them
We provide a discussion of the theoretical and empirical literature that informs this study, as well as an account of low carbon housing policy in the UK, exploring how visions of a low carbon housing future have developed within UK Government over the past 15 years
Summary
Accounting for 23% of national carbon emissions [11] and 29% of total energy consumption [18], housing is a crucial site for achieving emissions reductions if the ambitious 80% target set out within the UK Climate Change Act 2008 is to be met. In a novel addition to this approach, the paper seeks to explore these expert derived visions of a low carbon housing future with members of the public themselves, investigating their acceptability alongside the values and concerns which shape their perceptions of these possible futures. Before considering such questions, we provide a discussion of the theoretical and empirical literature that informs this study, as well as an account of low carbon housing policy in the UK, exploring how visions of a low carbon housing future have developed within UK Government over the past 15 years
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
