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Aagaard, L K (2021) The meaning of convenience in smart home imaginaries: tech industry insights. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 568–82.

Airaksinen, J, Joutsiniemi, A and Vaattovaara, M (2021) Empowered by planning law: unintended outcomes in the Helsinki region. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 837–55.

Anderson, B and James, P (2021) Covid-19 lockdown: impacts on GB electricity demand and CO2 emissions. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 134–49.

Angel, S, Lamson-Hall, P and Blanco, Z G (2021) Anatomy of density: measurable factors that constitute urban density. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 264–82.

Berrill, P and Hertwich, E G (2021) Correction: Material flows and GHG emissions from housing stock evolution in US counties, 2020–60. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 797–9.

Berrill, P and Hertwich, E G (2021) Material flows and GHG emissions from housing stock evolution in US counties, 2020–60. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 599–617.

Brambilla, A, Candido, C, Sangiorgio, M F, Gocer, O and Gocer, K (2021) Can commercial buildings cope with Australian bushfires? An IAQ analysis. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 583–98.

Brocklehurst, F, Morgan, E, Greer, K, Wade, J and Killip, G (2021) Domestic retrofit supply chain initiatives and business innovations: an international review. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 533–49.

Chapman, R and Howden-Chapman, P (2021) Does reframing urban policy around wellbeing support carbon mitigation?. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 688–99.

Deloly, C, Roue-le Gall, A, Moore, G, Bretelle, L, Milner, J, Mohajeri, N, Osrin, D, Salvia, G, Symonds, P, Tsoulou, I, Zimmermann, N, Wilkinson, P and Davies, M (2021) Relationship-building around a policy decision-support tool for urban health. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 717–33.

Drury, P, Watson, S and Lomas, K J (2021) Summertime overheating in UK homes: is there a safe haven?. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 970–90.

Emmanuel, R (2021) Urban microclimate in temperate climates: a summary for practitioners. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 402–10.

Ferguson, L, Taylor, J, Zhou, K, Shrubsole, C, Symonds, P, Davies, M and Dimitroulopoulou, S (2021) Systemic inequalities in indoor air pollution exposure in London, UK. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 425–48.

Fernández González, J and Gongal, A (2021) Unidirectional pedestrian circulation: physical distancing in informal settlements. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 655–65.

Gerhardsson, K M and Laike, T (2021) Windows: a study of residents’ perceptions and uses in Sweden. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 467–86.

Giddings, B and Rogerson, R (2021) Compacting the city centre: densification in two Newcastles. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 185–202.

Godoy-Shimizu, D, Steadman, P and Evans, S (2021) Density and morphology: from the building scale to the city scale. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 92–113.

Goodess, C, Berk, S, Ratna, S B, Brousse, O, Davies, M, Heaviside, C, Moore, G and Pineo, H (2021) Climate change projections for sustainable and healthy cities. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 812–36.

Gori, V, Marincioni, V and Altamirano-Medina, H (2021) Retrofitting traditional buildings: a risk-management framework integrating energy and moisture. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 411–24.

Graham, L t, parkinson, T and schiavon, S (2021) Lessons learned from 20 years of CBE’s occupant surveys. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 166–84.

Hofman, P, Wade, F, Webb, J and Groenleer, M (2021) Retrofitting at scale: comparing transition experiments in Scotland and the Netherlands. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 637–54.

Huebner, G M, Fell, M J and Watson, N E (2021) Improving energy research practices: guidance for transparency, reproducibility and quality. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 1–20.

Huebner, G M, Watson, N E, Direk, K, McKenna, E, Webborn, E, Hollick, F, Elam, S and Oreszczyn, T (2021) Survey study on energy use in UK homes during Covid-19. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 952–69.

Jain, N R, Rawal, R, Vardhan, V and Dey, S (2021) Performance metrics for room air-conditioners: energy, comfort and environmental impacts. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 666–87.

Kayatekin, C S (2021) Architectural form: flexibility, subdivision and diversity in Manhattan loft buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 888–906.

Kostourou, F (2021) Housing growth: impacts on density, space consumption and urban morphology. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 55–78.

Krych, K, Heeren, N and Hertwich, E G (2021) Factors influencing the life-cycle GHG emissions of Brazilian office buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 856–73.

Li, X and Sunikka-Blank, M (2021) Urban densification and social capital: neighbourhood restructuring in Jinan, China. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 244–63.

Licina, D, Wargocki, P, Pyke, C and Altomonte, S (2021) The future of IEQ in green building certifications. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 907–27.

Liddiard, R, Godoy-Shimizu, D, Ruyssevelt, P, Steadman, P, Evans, S, Humphrey, D and Azhari, R (2021) Energy use intensities in London houses. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 336–53.

Livingstone, N, Fiorentino, S and Short, M (2021) Planning for residential ‘value’? London’s densification policies and impacts. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 203–19.

Lomas, K J (2021) Summertime overheating in dwellings in temperate climates. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 487–94.

Lu, Y, Scott, A, Kim, J, Curi, C B, McCarty, J, Pardy, A, Rysanek, A, Kellett, R and Girling, C (2021) Integration of an energy–economy model with an urban energy model. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 114–33.

Luo, M, Zhang, H, Wang, Z, Arens, E, Chen, W, Bauman, F S and Raftery, P (2021) Ceiling-fan-integrated air-conditioning: thermal comfort evaluations. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 928–51.

Mallaburn, P, Azhari, R, Fawcett, T and Topouzi, M (2021) Australian non-domestic buildings policy as an international exemplar. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 318–35.

Martino, N, Girling, C and Lu, Y (2021) Urban form and livability: socioeconomic and built environment indicators. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 220–43.

McCarty, J, Scott, A and Rysanek, A (2021) Determining the retrofit viability of Vancouver’s single-detached homes: an expert elicitation. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 354–77.

Mirabella, N and Allacker, K (2021) Urban GHG accounting: discrepancies, constraints and opportunities. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 21–35.

Mohajeri, N, Walch, A, Gudmundsson, A, Heaviside, C, Askari, S, Wilkinson, P and Davies, M (2021) Covid-19 mobility restrictions: impacts on urban air quality and health. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 759–78.

Pineo, H, Zhou, K, Niu, Y, Hale, J, Willan, C, Crane, M, Zimmermann, N, Michie, S, Liu, Q and Davies, M (2021) Evidence-informed urban health and sustainability governance in two Chinese cities. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 550–67.

Pont, M B, Haupt, P, Berg, P, Alstäde, V and Heyman, A (2021) Systematic review and comparison of densification effects and planning motivations. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 378–401.

Rinkinen, J, Shove, E and Smits, M (2021) Conceptualising urban density, energy demand and social practice. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 79–91.

Schiller, G, Blum, A, Hecht, R, Oertel, H, Ferber, U and Meinel, G (2021) Urban infill development potential in Germany: comparing survey and GIS data. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 36–54.

Simpson, K, Murtagh, N and Owen, A (2021) Domestic retrofit: understanding capabilities of micro-enterprise building practitioners. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 449–66.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: building practitioners; capability; construction industry; energy efficiency; housing; labour; micro-enterprise; retrofit; vocational training;
  • ISBN/ISSN: 2632-6655
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.106
  • Abstract:
    To deliver effective domestic retrofit at scale, it is essential to understand the current and required capabilities of building practitioners working in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) of existing buildings. Capability research in the construction sector has previously focused on large projects, but small, and particularly, micro-firms that undertake RMI and form 77% of workers in construction, are under-researched. This gap is addressed by the present study on the capabilities of the practitioners and the contextual opportunities to deploy capabilities. The study analysed data from interviews (n = 27) with micro-enterprise building practitioners working in the UK’s RMI sector. Template analysis was conducted by applying an established model of behaviour change: Capability, Opportunity, Motivation—Behaviour (COM-B). Under Capability, three main themes were identified: knowledge, business management and individual characteristics. Under Opportunities, the main themes were state action, market and customer demand, technology diffusion, networks and business management. Under Motivation the themes were pride in work, good working relationships, maintaining a viable business and customer satisfaction. Practitioners are continually learning and problem-solving, developing trust and creating positive professional relationships. Working with these existing capabilities, experiential learning on-site and peer-to-peer training are recommended to scale up capability. For capabilities to be deployed, policy must enable opportunities across the multiple contexts micro-enterprise practitioners operate within, including training and incentives across the supply chain network and in stimulating demand. Policy and practice relevance Policy-driven retrofit programmes, such as those providing government funding for retrofit, must work from existing practitioner capability to accelerate capacity and allow delivery at scale. Practitioner knowledge, built over generations, is used to solve problems encountered with existing buildings. Practitioners minimise risk by avoiding unfamiliar technologies and practices. Practitioners develop capability on-site, experientially, so policy must enable practical experience for practitioners. One aspect of capability that needs enhancement to deliver effective retrofit at scale is understanding the building as an integrated system. While learning about individual technologies is important, integrated knowledge of multiple technologies and how they work together is required. To develop industry capability, policy needs to recognise the essential role micro-enterprise practitioners play in delivering retrofit and to harness their existing capabilities in knowledge, problem-solving and business management. Opportunities are needed to develop retrofit capability through peer-to-peer learning, knowledge-sharing between older and younger practitioners, and influential sector networks.

Taylor, J and Howden-Chapman, P (2021) The significance of urban systems on sustainability and public health. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 874–87.

Teller, J (2021) Regulating urban densification: what factors should be used?. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 302–17.

Teller, J (2021) Urban density and Covid-19: towards an adaptive approach. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 150–65.

Tingey, M, Webb, J and van der Horst, D (2021) Housing retrofit: six types of local authority energy service models. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 518–32.

Turcu, C, Crane, M, Hutchinson, E, Lloyd, S, Belesova, K, Wilkinson, P and Davies, M (2021) A multi-scalar perspective on health and urban housing: an umbrella review. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 734–58.

Urme, S A, Radia, M A, Alam, R, Chowdhury, M U, Hasan, S, Ahmed, S, Sara, H H, Islam, M S, Jerin, D T, Hema, P S, Rahman, M, Islam, A M, Hasan, M T and Quayyum, Z (2021) Dhaka landfill waste practices: addressing urban pollution and health hazards. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 700–16.

van der Bent, H S, Visscher, H J, Meijer, A and Mouter, N (2021) Monitoring energy performance improvement: insights from Dutch housing association dwellings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 779–96.

Wade, F and Visscher, H (2021) Retrofit at scale: accelerating capabilities for domestic building stocks. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 800–11.

Walter, T and Mathew, P (2021) GHG policy impacts for Seattle’s buildings: targets, timing, and scope. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 283–301.

Wise, F, Moncaster, A and Jones, D (2021) Rethinking retrofit of residential heritage buildings. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 495–517.

Yang, Y, Li, Y, Kral, K, Hupert, N and Dogan, T (2021) Urban design attributes and resilience: COVID-19 evidence from New York City. Buildings and Cities, 2(01), 618–36.