TY - JOUR

T1 - Sustainable thermal technologies and care homes

T2 - productive alignment or risky investment?

AU - Neven, Louis

AU - Walker, Gordon

AU - Brown, Sam

PY - 2015/9

Y1 - 2015/9

N2 - The use of more sustainable thermal technologies is a policy imperative across the UK building stock. However, not all building uses provide the same opportunities for technology uptake as others. Care homes for older people have characteristics which in technical and economic terms suggest that they might be particularly appropriate for the implementation of more sustainable thermal technologies. They have comparatively high demands for space heating and hot water often sustained on a 24/7 basis. However there are many considerations, both generic and contextual, that will typically play into processes of technology uptake. Through qualitative research in six case study homes, focused on management and staff perspectives and experiences, we explore the degree to which there might be a productive alignment between care home operation and the use of sustainable thermal technologies. Two key themes emerge focused on business considerations and the importance of avoiding risk and damage to reputation; and the ways in which different thermal technologies are relevant to and can potentially impact on care practices. We conclude that despite potential benefits the sector could remain rather resistant to sustainability innovations. We suggest therefore areas in which productive action and further research could be undertaken. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

AB - The use of more sustainable thermal technologies is a policy imperative across the UK building stock. However, not all building uses provide the same opportunities for technology uptake as others. Care homes for older people have characteristics which in technical and economic terms suggest that they might be particularly appropriate for the implementation of more sustainable thermal technologies. They have comparatively high demands for space heating and hot water often sustained on a 24/7 basis. However there are many considerations, both generic and contextual, that will typically play into processes of technology uptake. Through qualitative research in six case study homes, focused on management and staff perspectives and experiences, we explore the degree to which there might be a productive alignment between care home operation and the use of sustainable thermal technologies. Two key themes emerge focused on business considerations and the importance of avoiding risk and damage to reputation; and the ways in which different thermal technologies are relevant to and can potentially impact on care practices. We conclude that despite potential benefits the sector could remain rather resistant to sustainability innovations. We suggest therefore areas in which productive action and further research could be undertaken. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

KW - Care homes

KW - Sustainability

KW - Heating

KW - Investment

KW - Care practices

KW - OLDER-PEOPLE

KW - HEALTH

KW - COLD

U2 - 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.11.027

DO - 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.11.027

M3 - Journal article

VL - 84

SP - 195

EP - 203

JO - Energy Policy

JF - Energy Policy

SN - 0301-4215

ER -