inside the uk's ecohome - a pecha kucha story
TRANSCRIPT
Once upon a time....
....there were many
badly designed
housing estates in the
UK.
Every day...
....people lived in cold,
inefficient homes and
used way too much
money on staying
warm.
So... some architects decided
to build eco-estates with all the
bells and whistles needed to be
eco-friendly and keep warm
without breaking the bank
Then, one day...
....researchers at
Sheffield Hallam
Uni decided to see
how people living
in these estates
coped with their
high-tech houses
and made films
starring the
residents.
But then... the researchers found that
people living in eco-homes had different
understandings of its features and
technologies to those designing them.
They often didn’t care or know they were
eco homes but liked the look of them. They
also complained that no one had explained
to them all the eco features and how to use
them properly.
Until, finally... The films were all put
online to bring together everyone
involved in building, selling and living in
eco housing.
And, ever since then...architects,
builders and policy makers that have
watched the films have gotten a bit
wiser about what is important to the
users of their products.
Key facts.......
• one year UK ESRC funded project (2011-
2012)
• four case study low energy housing
developments in England
• uses film making and social media to give
residents a VOICE
• residents filmed talking about their homes, in
their homes
• 3 films featuring total of 14 households
4 reasons to research eco-homes now
research eco-homes now? 1. If eco-schemes are to have desired outcomes,
architects, developers and housing providers should think from the users' point of view Lynch (1989, 67-106) and Marshall (2008)
2. Zero carbon footprints by 2050* mean that radical changes in the way our homes look and function are unavoidable.
3. Escalating energy costs also mean we must ensure that the energy saving potential of properties are maximised
4. The complexity of domestic energy systems will increase
*UK national carbon delivery plan (DECC 2011, 30)
3 aims....
1. to understand and show how ‘ordinary’
people use and respond to innovative
eco-homes
2. to give occupants a voice in the debate
around low energy homes
3. to enable architects and developers to
think from the users' point of view
Green Street
• a market driven development in
Nottingham
• built: 2011/12
• EPC rating: A
• mechanical heat exchange
• triple glazing
• PV and solar thermal panels
Henley Way
• social housing and shared
ownership
• built: 2007
• EPC rating: A
• PV and solar thermal panels
• 'upside down' layout
New Islington/Lilac Court
• social housing and shared
ownership
• built 2011/12
• CSH level 3
• air source heat pumps
• social housing built 2011/12
• CSH level 3
• STHW panels
The interview
• Respondents were first asked to describe:
- their housing histories
- their motivations for moving to current home
- their feelings towards their current home
- their attitudes and practices in relation to sustainability.
The tour • The respondents were then asked to provide a guided tour of the
home explaining its design and low energy features and how they
understood these.
Afterwards • Videos were then collated and edited into a 15-20 mins
summary video of for each of the different schemes.
• The summary video was later presented to the participants in a
local film ‘première’ to enable comment and feedback.
• Designers, developers and landlords were then shown the
films and asked to comment.
4 things we learntabout living in low
energy housing? 1. Many residents struggled with the complexity of
the unconventional technology, did not find it
intuitive and were unsure how to get the best out of
it
2. Some were experiencing adverse effects: e.g.
higher bills and hot/cold homes
3. Little support / guidance available aside from
manuals and some erroneous information passed
on.
4. Some social housing tenants felt they had not
'opted in' to low carbon living
What we learnt about eco as home...
• Appearance, location and the community and
performance as 'home' are as important as eco-features
(a bonus)
• Previous studies have used practice theory to
interpret occupants responses. Works well BUT....
• ...does not take account of identity: the home is a
means of both forming and projecting social identity.
• Neither identity nor practice are independent.
• As a result, both identity theory AND practice theory
is relevant, when analysing the results and designing
houses.
4 lessons for policy types...
1. If the home is not used correctly, low energy
designs will not realise their potential
2. Social landlords must take account of tenants'
preferences when trying to meet obligations to reduce
carbon emissions and protect tenants from FP
3. More training of 'frontline staff' required to support
occupants to access benefits of a low energy home
4. Homes have to be socially acceptable as well as
functional