Accelerating the net zero transition: the case of whole house retrofit

It is widely recognised that achieving net zero requires transformative action in a short timeframe. How transitions can be accelerated is thus a key academic and policy question (Markard et al. 2020). The UK's climate change targets will not be met without the near-complete decarbonisation of the housing stock. As with the net zero transition more generally, domestic retrofits need to happen on a mass scale and in a short timeframe: all 29 million UK homes need to be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate of at least C in the next 10-15 years. Apart from the potential for emissions reductions, retrofitting homes offers other major benefits, such as reducing energy bills, tackling fuel poverty, addressing health and wellbeing issues, creating jobs, and lowering the costs of energy transitions. To reach decarbonisation targets, the necessity of a 'whole-house' approach to residential retrofit has been asserted. This involves the adoption of multiple measures such as insulation, draught proofing, ventilation, low carbon heating systems and electricity microgeneration like solar PV, treating the home as a system, rather than a set of disconnected components. In this context, accelerating home retrofit transitions implies the creation of sustained funding streams, the development of supply chains and adequately skilled workforces, quality control of retrofits, and a shift in public engagement approaches. Using qualitative research methods including in-depth interviewing and reviewing, the research will aim to:
a) Advance theory on sustainability transitions acceleration through examination of the case of whole-house retrofit.
b) Deliver practical empirical insights on how acceleration of transitions is enabled or constrained.
c) Create meaningful impact through collaboration with key stakeholders engaged in whole-house retrofit governance