User Knowledge in Housing Energy Innovations
E. Heiskanen, Raimo Lovio · 2007
Energy and energy conservation are traditionally fields in which technical expertise has an important role. Other recent research has emphasized the role of user involvement in energy innovations. Yet, little is known about the type of knowledge that users and producers have in different industries or what actually happens in attempts to transfer this knowledge from one party to another. Do users possess knowledge that is significant for the development of new energy systems that conserve energy and combat climate change? What is the nature of this knowledge and how can it be mobilized? What can be gained in energy innovation by involving users? Is enhanced knowledge exchange sufficient to align the interests of users and producers? We address these questions by applying the user innovation framework to a case study on the development and introduction of a low-energy housing procurement competition and labelling concept in Finland.