In the quest to achieve net-zero buildings, a significant hurdle has been the slow adoption of deep energy retrofits (DERs). These comprehensive upgrades, which drastically reduce a building’s energy consumption, have struggled to gain traction due to financial, technical, regulatory, and social barriers. However, new research offers a strategic approach to accelerate this transition, with potentially substantial commercial impacts for the energy sector.
Published in the journal Buildings & Cities (translated from Dutch as “Cities and Buildings”), a study led by Thomas Hyo-min King from The Reconstruct Initiative at McGill University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, applies a theory known as strategic niche management (SNM) to understand how to scale up DERs. SNM is a core theory in transition studies that focuses on creating ‘niches’ to help novel technologies gain momentum.
The research examines three mass DER initiatives that employ an industrialized overcladding approach: Energiesprong in the Netherlands, RetrofitNY in New York, and REALIZE-MA in Massachusetts. Each of these initiatives has addressed regionally specific barriers and opportunities through a systematic, iterative SNM framework. This framework includes the choice of technology, selection, design, and scaling up of experiments, as well as the breakdown of protection mechanisms.
“Our study reveals that these intermediaries play a crucial role in catalyzing transformations,” King explains. “They manage niches to encourage critical learning processes, which are essential for accelerating DER adoption.”
The findings suggest that SNM can be a practical tool to analyze and inform interventions to speed up DER adoption in diverse jurisdictions. This is particularly relevant for the energy sector, as mass deployment of DERs is critical to achieving a net-zero building stock. By understanding how to overcome barriers and scale up these technologies, energy companies can tap into a significant market opportunity.
Moreover, the research highlights the importance of intermediaries in managing niches. These entities facilitate the learning and adaptation processes necessary for DERs to gain momentum. As King notes, “The work of these intermediaries is vital for securing a healthy, resilient, high-performing, and environmentally responsible building stock.”
The study’s implications extend beyond the immediate applications of DERs. It offers a strategic framework for scaling up novel technologies in the built environment, which could have far-reaching effects on the energy sector and beyond. By fostering a systems-thinking approach and understanding the role of stakeholders, this research paves the way for more effective and efficient transitions to net-zero buildings.
As the building sector continues to grapple with the challenges of energy efficiency and sustainability, this research provides a valuable roadmap for accelerating the adoption of deep energy retrofits. For the energy sector, it represents a significant opportunity to drive innovation and capture new markets in the transition to a net-zero future.