The process behind the project “houses without heating system” in Göteborg, Sweden

Panel: Panel 2. Comfort and energy use in buildings

Author:
Wiktoria Glad, The Tema Institute

Abstract

In the outskirts of Göteborg, Sweden, twenty terrace houses were constructed throughout 2001. The spectacular thing about these houses is that no traditional heating systems were installed. The commercial’s catch phrase is: “Houses without heating systems”. Following this project from the beginning and through the whole process, including the long planning procedure (between 1997-1999), the professional actors (the initiator, the building proprietor, the contractor and the researchers), come into focus. This is a unique project in Sweden and has not yet had any follow-up developments. The evaluation, mainly including measurements, is being conducted by a research institute and will be finalised in 2003.

The theoretical approach is as described in socio-technical system and focuses on social and technical components. The point of departure for the study is the social subsystem and the process behind the project which is important in understanding the final outcome. The study focuses on how and why this project was conducted. Initially, one person’s ideas, inspired by building projects abroad were crucial. These ideas were then spread to a network constituting of researchers, the building proprietor, the contractor and the builders, and other consultants. The process can be described as a social innovation since a new concept for heating in buildings is introduced by focusing on the planning process and new participating actors.

In the analysis social-technical systems approach is used. It is possible to trace an actor who has been present in every phase and who has acted as a driving force in the process.