Homemaking in a Living Laboratory: Interpretations of a Zero Emission Housing Solution

Abstract

A zero emission building (ZEB), as defined by the Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB Centre) in Norway, is one solution towards achieving the aims set by the Paris Climate Agreement on dramatically reducing carbon emissions. The structure for a zero emission building includes a variety of technical strategies such as passive and active energy design and renewable energy sources, and is currently under development and testing. Many of the future ZEBs will become homes, implying a change in the use and understanding by those living there. Based on the response from six residential groups who lived in ZEB Living Lab, this paper studies how zero-emission housing technology impacts the use and understanding of it as a home. The paper presents two different interpretations, one that felt at home, and one that did not, and discusses the reasons and implications on the wider use and introduction of this kind of housing technology in Norway.