Abstract for:A dynamic model of psychological fatigue in the process of low carbon home retrofit

The promotion of low carbon home retrofit among homeowners is widely recognised as an important strategy to mitigate climate change. Homeowners’ positive experience of both the retrofit process and its outcomes is important to persuade others to retrofit their homes. Earlier research highlighted that the formation of a negative experience of low carbon home retrofit process is a possible but not an inevitable consequence of carrying out such works, regardless of the level of disruption to occupiers’ every day life, which is associated with such works. This paper conceptualises an endogenous causal explanation of psychological fatigue development during the process of low carbon home retrofit. The explanation is based on Hockey’s motivation control theory of psychological fatigue and is used to explain why some owners in the case studies developed retrofit-associated fatigue and formed consequently a negative impression of their retrofit experience, while others did not. The research suggests that a step-by-step retrofit process may appeal to a wide range of owner-occupiers and may generate a more positive impression of retrofit process compared to whole house approach. This positive impression is needed to persuade others to retrofit their homes to low carbon standards.