How to Succeed in Low-Energy Housing—Path Creation Analysis of Low-Energy Innovation Projects

Pia Pässilä, Lauri Pulkka and Seppo Junnila
Additional contact information
Pia Pässilä: Department of Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics, Aalto University, PL 15800, 00076 Aalto, Finland
Lauri Pulkka: Department of Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics, Aalto University, PL 15800, 00076 Aalto, Finland
Seppo Junnila: Department of Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics, Aalto University, PL 15800, 00076 Aalto, Finland

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: The low-energy and the nearly zero-energy buildings trend is calling for radical new innovations from the construction industry. This study uses path creation theory to examine two innovation concepts for low-energy housing in Northern Europe with contrasting outcomes—with one being an apparent market success and the other a disappointment. The results highlight two issues behind the success, one of a systemic nature and the other concerning innovation management. First, the development of energy efficiency regulations and the dominant technological trajectory regarding low-energy houses are interdependent. However, it seems that while supporting the trajectory of the innovation developed in the first case, regulators created virtually insurmountable cognitive and normative obstacles to finding alternative technological pathways. Second, the significance of proof of concepts for new innovations cannot be underestimated. The importance of a pilot project rests not only on showcasing and testing the technology, but also on its ability to increase political support, investments, and public awareness. The study implies that low-energy construction seems to be the next great challenge, one where genuine co-operation between the industry, public authorities and academia is a prerequisite for success.

Keywords: policy; regulation; innovation; path creation; technology; energy efficient buildings; energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/7/7/8801/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/7/7/8801/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:7:p:8801-8822:d:52178

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().