Experiences of homeowners regarding nearly zero-energy renovations and consequences for business models

Pathways should be explored so that supply-side actors can present integrated renovations to homeowners in such a way that customers are confident with “nearly zero-energy” renovation. Understanding the real wishes of homeowners regarding integrated renovation can help to develop appropriate business. In the framework of the Intelligent Energy Europe project COHERENO (www.cohereno.eu), research was done for the market development of such renovation of single-family homes in five European countries. A coherent study was performed that encompasses an overview of, and experiences from, homeowners - involved in realized projects in order to determine business model input for increasing integrated renovations. The research showed that frontrunner-homeowners who decided for nearly zero-energy renovations were either younger or more mature families, mainly motivated by energy targets and indoor and environmental concerns. They actively searched experienced actors and attached high value to the energy interest of professionals. They expected professionals to have reference projects they can visit, to deliver a feasible planning and to assure project timing. Detected customer value propositions and quality assurance procedures are now introduced in collaborative business model development cases to find pathways to increase customer confidence and the market uptake of integrated home renovations.OTBArchitecture and The Built Environmen