Strengthening local authority web portals for the adoption of lowcarbon technologies by homeowners

Triple-A: Stimulating the Adoption of low-carbon technologies by homeowners through increased Awareness and easy Access

Report (2018)

Authors

E. Mlecnik Housing Management - Architecture and the Built Environment
F.M. Meijer OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation
Wolf Bracke Universiteit Gent
Research Group
OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation
Copyright: © 2018 E. Mlecnik, F.M. Meijer, Wolf Bracke
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Published Date

30-01-2018

Language

English

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Research Group

OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation

Abstract

Local authorities engaged in the Interreg 2 Seas project Triple-A want to achieve a market acceleration in the owner-occupied single-family home renovation sector by increasing awareness of - and enabling access to – energy saving technologies. Various local authorities are particularly looking for opportunities to improve their communication channels using novel web functions. This report looks into opportunities for stimulating homeowners to adopt energy-saving technologies by improving municipal communication channels, particularly web portals.
First, literature research reflects on the influence of communication channels on homeowner renovation decision-making processes. The research further provides an inventory of strengths and weaknesses of existing web portals aimed at awareness raising among homeowners and reflects on new web platform developments.
Secondly, data on current web portals of local authorities were collected from local authorities in four countries (Belgium, France, The Netherlands, UK). The qualitative analysis compares existing local authorities’ web portals against key characteristics for providing homeowner support, to identify potential for improvement.
Thirdly, local scoping workshops were organized in seven local authorities to determine most effective modules to improve local authority web portals. A demo workshop resulted in a list of desired web functions for local authorities. Local discussion with stakeholders revealed the main opportunities and barriers for improving existing local authority web portals and a selection of at least five web functions for immediate development.
The research resulted in a long-term perspective on web portal development and a set of modules and recommendations for strengthening local authorities’ web portals for increasing awareness and easy access to low carbon technologies. Based on this, seven local authorities identified the most effective modules to improve their web portals in the short term in co-creation with stakeholders.