Extending urban energy transitions to the mid-tier: Insights into energy efficiency from the management of HVAC maintenance in ‘mid-tier’ office buildings

Daly, D; Carr, C; Daly, M; McGuirk, P; Stanes, E; Santala, I

Extending urban energy transitions to the mid-tier: Insights into energy efficiency from the management of HVAC maintenance in ‘mid-tier’ office buildings

Daly, D Carr, C Daly, M

McGuirk, P Stanes, E Santala, I

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Energy Policy, 2023, 174
Issue Date:: 2023-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Daly, D
dc.contributor.author	Carr, C
dc.contributor.author	Daly, M https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1974-6884
dc.contributor.author	McGuirk, P
dc.contributor.author	Stanes, E
dc.contributor.author	Santala, I
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-27T20:06:25Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-27T20:06:25Z
dc.date.issued	2023-03-01
dc.identifier.citation	Energy Policy, 2023, 174
dc.identifier.issn	0301-4215
dc.identifier.issn	1873-6777
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178412
dc.description.abstract	Older, smaller and poorer quality commercial buildings (the ‘mid-tier’) make up much of the commercial building stock and are crucial for urban energy transitions. Action must extend beyond new commercial buildings and high-end building retrofit projects to realise deep decarbonisation of the built environment. Mid-tier buildings offer substantial opportunity for energy retrofits, though the sector lags behind premium office buildings. Comparatively, different ownership structures, tenant profiles, and facilities management regimes challenge the value-proposition for energy transition, and little is known about how to leverage energy performance improvements in this crucial sector. Focussing on the management of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems as an entry point for improvement, this paper presents empirical evidence from the largest survey conducted with Australian HVAC contractors, facility managers, and system engineers to date. The results explicate the realities of managing energy in mid-tier office buildings in Australia as a socio-technical undertaking. Our analysis identifies limits and opportunities for shaping energy efficiency of HVAC maintenance, focussed on issues pertaining to workforce, building and systems, and maintenance practices. Further, we draw out policy imperatives needed to address hurdles created by multiple market failures that complicate energy transition in mid-tier buildings.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Energy Policy
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113415
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Energy
dc.subject.classification	3304 Urban and regional planning
dc.subject.classification	4407 Policy and administration
dc.subject.classification	4802 Environmental and resources law
dc.title	Extending urban energy transitions to the mid-tier: Insights into energy efficiency from the management of HVAC maintenance in ‘mid-tier’ office buildings
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	174
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-04-27T20:06:22Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	174

Abstract:

Older, smaller and poorer quality commercial buildings (the ‘mid-tier’) make up much of the commercial building stock and are crucial for urban energy transitions. Action must extend beyond new commercial buildings and high-end building retrofit projects to realise deep decarbonisation of the built environment. Mid-tier buildings offer substantial opportunity for energy retrofits, though the sector lags behind premium office buildings. Comparatively, different ownership structures, tenant profiles, and facilities management regimes challenge the value-proposition for energy transition, and little is known about how to leverage energy performance improvements in this crucial sector. Focussing on the management of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems as an entry point for improvement, this paper presents empirical evidence from the largest survey conducted with Australian HVAC contractors, facility managers, and system engineers to date. The results explicate the realities of managing energy in mid-tier office buildings in Australia as a socio-technical undertaking. Our analysis identifies limits and opportunities for shaping energy efficiency of HVAC maintenance, focussed on issues pertaining to workforce, building and systems, and maintenance practices. Further, we draw out policy imperatives needed to address hurdles created by multiple market failures that complicate energy transition in mid-tier buildings.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178412