A transition to green buildings in Norway

Abstract

Energy use in buildings is a significant contributor to climate change. The purpose of this paper is to explore industrial changes towards sustainability in the Norwegian construction industry, adding to debates about transitions to sustainability and transition pathways in a traditional, low-tech sector. Empirically the paper reports a case of cumulative changes in the Norwegian construction industry over from 1998 to 2013. The case explores a complex innovation and diffusion process where technologies, visions, actors and policy co-evolve over time to transform an existing socio-technical regime. Findings indicate that the transition moved forward through interplay between innovations in niches, a growing constituency around green building and a string of regulative and market changes.