Comparative analysis of energy efficient technology innovation in buildings: the case of passive houses in Germany, Sweden and China

Panel: 5A. Cutting the energy use of buildings: Projects and technologies

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Jingjing Zhang, Lund University
Lars Nilsson, Lund University, Sweden

Abstract

Buildings account for almost 30% of global CO2 emissions (IEA, 2010). Large savings in energy use (75% or higher) are possible in new buildings through better designs (IPCC, 2007). However, there is also institutional inertia and other barriers in the building sector that hinders the introduction and diffusion of technologies and new practices. The mechanisms that support or hinder introduction and diffusion of energy efficiency in buildings can be analysed from an innovation system perspective. Passive houses, as an example of a high efficiency standard, are starting to be more common in some European countries.

We analyse here the development and innovation diffusion of passive houses in pioneering Germany, the ‘second-mover’ Sweden, and China which is in the preparation phase, from a Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) perspective. The TIS approach enables us to analyse the passive house innovation process from a niche market to becoming the norm. Our aim is to extract knowledge for future policy strategies for deep energy efficiency in buildings. For that purpose we assess the structures and functions of the innovation systems and identify the system drivers and problems in the three different countries.

The results show, for example, the important role of certain actors, such as intermediary organizations. The mainly bottom-up driven development in Germany and Sweden may in China be complemented with top-down governance approaches in the future, which can create considerable scale-effects. This first-time application of the TIS-perspective to energy efficiency in buildings in a developing country demonstrates the usefulness of the approach. It suggests that policy for building energy efficiency in China should adopt a broader strategy, go beyond building codes and demonstration projects, and seriously consider how the innovation system can be strengthened in all its important functions and adapted over time.