Innovation development for highly energy-efficient housing

Buildings account for 40% of EU final energy demand and policy developments like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive are stimulating the innovation development for nearly zero-energy housing. However, businesses switching to innovative products for highly energy-efficient houses is a process that is poorly understood. To accelerate nearly zero-energy housing, all obstacles that currently restrict the distribution of innovation - experienced by end users, businesses and policy makers - must be defined and tackled simultaneously. These barriers and opportunities have been described in detail in a market study, three business innovation studies, three studies on end user experiences and three policy studies. These studies were recently assembled in a book. The enterprise studies confirm that collaboration between companies is essential to innovation, even beyond the usual ad-hoc knowledge application and the individual collaboration during demonstration projects. One major obstacle is the transfer of the necessary technical knowledge and skills by the few pioneers to the other companies. Manufacturers, in particular, play a key role in the adoption of innovation and the transfer of new insights to small and medium-sized enterprises, which are a key target group for the market introduction of new concepts in the building sector. Only a small group of occupants is interested in the energy savings and new forms of sustainable living. The study shows that end users can be motivated by low energy costs and improved living quality. They may be adequately satisfied with their homes, particularly with the high level of comfort. The policy studies confirm that the government should play a more active part in getting energy-efficient housing off the ground, especially house renovations: the business community should be encouraged to develop more innovations which requires financial resources. Manufacturers and suppliers switching to innovative products for ultra energy-efficient homes is not a standalone process of companies promoting technologies which consumers then use. Innovation is a diffuse process which must be approached from a policy perspective as well as the demand and supply perspectives.