Stakeholder constellations in energy renovation of a Danish Hotel

Abstract

Energy renovations of existing buildings is potentially one of the most influential energy saving measures. Through an analysis based on stakeholder theory, this article defines the constellations of stakeholders that make energy renovations happen.The research case, a small hotel in Denmark, is quite unique as most energy renovation research is related to housing or apartment buildings rather than small service companies, even though hotels and other small service companies do in general have high energy consumption.Based on a longitudinal case study (2008–2012), we show how two different renovation initiatives fail. Then the stakeholder constellations change and an engineer manages to create progress by actively involving the users of the buildings in the development of solutions and by coordinating the interests of the other stakeholders.Energy renovations in small service companies depend on key stakeholders that possess knowledge about energy renovations. Facilitating energy renovations is not a matter of “selling an idea” or “convincing the owner” to invest in a certain technology. It is dependent on the key stakeholders' access to an appropriate knowledge network and active coordination and trust between relevant stakeholders.