Governing and governed by practices: Exploring interventions in low-carbon housing policy and practice

This chapter investigates the often overlooked practices of housing professionals involved in designing and delivering low-carbon homes; two UK case studies focused on different low-carbon performance standards (Code for Sustainable Homes; Passivhaus standard). We argue that low-carbon housing needs to be understood as an intervention in a whole system of interrelated practices performed by both householders and professionals, and not merely as an isolated introduction of new technologies to householders. The links, flows and relations within such a system of practice need to be further explored, if a better understanding of the governance of sustainability interventions is to be achieved.