Accessibility navigation


Skills required to deliver energy efficient school retrofit buildings

Bevan, W., Lu, S.-L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6773-5907 and Sexton, M. (2020) Skills required to deliver energy efficient school retrofit buildings. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 27 (10). pp. 3051-3073. ISSN 0969-9988

[img]
Preview
Text - Accepted Version
· Please see our End User Agreement before downloading.

1MB

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

To link to this item DOI: 10.1108/ECAM-03-2019-0126

Abstract/Summary

Purpose: The prevailing literature argues the need for ‘new’ skills to deliver energy efficient buildings. The concept of new skills, however, has not been subject to empirical investigation. This paper aims to provide insight on the required new skills, and their development and application, for the successful delivery of energy efficient school retrofit buildings. Design/methodology/approach: The research employed a case study approach of a school retrofit building project in the early stages of the adoption of energy efficient measures. Through the application of the socio-technical network approach (STNA) as data collection and analysis framework, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations and a review of relevant organisational documentation and were analysed using thematic coding. Findings: The findings reveal key actors (i.e. the local authority, energy contractors and school end-users), their principal interests and the required communication, project management, energy management, technical and research skills during their interactions in the successful delivery of the school retrofit building project. Results further reinforce the crucial role of the local authority in driving energy performance improvement of school buildings. Originality / value: This study demonstrates empirical evidence of the principal actors and skills required for the delivery of energy efficient school retrofit buildings, contributes to new theoretical insights at the identification of key micro-level development of construction skills through the project network, and evidences on how the STNA can be mobilised in construction skills research.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Science > School of the Built Environment > Organisation, People and Technology group
ID Code:90801
Publisher:Emerald

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation