Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford

• +44 (0)1865 285162
• gavin.killip@eci.ox.ac.uk

• Energy Theme

Gavin has a BA in Linguistics from York University and an MSc in Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies from the University of East London, in association with the Centre for Alternative Technology. He joined the ECI in 2004 after working for 10 years on energy efficiency and building-integrated renewable energy projects in the voluntary and public sectors. He has reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions in his own 1908 home by 60% through major refurbishment.

I am interested in finding solutions for a more sustainable built environment. I take a broad 'socio-technical systems' approach to investigating how technology and behaviour evolve and affect each other, with the ultimate goal of proposing positive change by understanding better the workings of complex systems.

Most of my research focus has been on existing housing in the context of climate change mitigation - investigating how 2050 climate change targets might be met through the markets for property (sales and rentals) and repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI). This involves economic transactions, flows of information at many different levels, and challenges for many existing institutions. I aim to make my research relevant to policy.

• Policies for deep refurbishment of buildings - This research is examining 'deep' renovation - renovation which delivers significant energy and carbon savings in domestic and non-domestic buildings. We are investigating three key aspects and their connection to policy:
  1. Time and timing - including investigating the advantages and disadvantages of step-by-step renovation;
  2. The role of professionals & business in delivering renovation;
  3. The multiple benefits of deep renovation to building owners, occupiers and society.
• DeViz (Defect visualisation via thermography) - This project uses thermal imaging as a behaviour change tool for informing, empowering, and engaging site supervisors to help them achieve zero defects in their buildings.
• Planning and governance of micro generation and EV charging connections, The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) - This project is investigating the spatial planning reforms designed to integrate transport, vehicle charging and energy needs in new housing. Compulsory inclusion of charging points in all new houses and likely concentrated uptake of EVs could exaggerate challenges faced by network companies.These are compounded by multiple layers of governance for planning, transport and electricity systems.

• 'Insulation for the Nation', Costing the Earth. BBC Radio 4. 25 April 2017.

BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth programme spoke to ECI Researcher Dr Gavin Killip about his own home's energy-saving retrofit and asks if carbon-emission cutting can save the climate. Our homes are responsible for 25% of our carbon emissions in the UK and we spend around £25bn a year on our home renovations. This, Dr Killip says, "is ideal opportunity for integrating [energy saving] work." However, there is currently not the skilled workforce to carry out the necessary retrofit renovations, nor the demand, to turn this opportunity into a reality.

2021

• Brocklehurst, F., Morgan, E., Greer, K., Wade, J. and Killip, G. (2021) Domestic retrofit supply chain initiatives and business innovations: an international review. Buildings and Cities, 2(1): 533-549.
• Goodhew, J., Goodhew, S., Fox, M., Alencastro, J. and Killip, G. (2021) Visualising Defects via Thermography (DeViz): A combined technological, behavioural and quality systems approach to achieving near zero defect buildings. Proceedings of ECEEE Summer Study (online), 7 - 11 June 2021. paper 8-091-21.
• Hampton, S., Killip, G., Smith, A., Eyre, N., Knight, L., Scott, H., Budnitz, H. and Wheeler, S. (2021) Pathways to a zero carbon Oxfordshire. Proceedings of ECEEE Summer Study (online), 7 - 11 June 2021. paper 5-096-21.
• Hampton, S., Knight, L., Scott, H., Budnitz, H., Killip, G., Wheeler, S., Smith, A., Eyre, N. (2021) Pathways to a zero carbon Oxfordshire. Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford
• Killip, G., Fawcett, T., Jofeh, C., Owen, A.M., Topouzi, M. and Wade, F. (2021) Building on our strengths: a market transformation approach to energy retrofit in UK homes. Federation of Master Builders / Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions
• Wade, F., Webb, J., Killip, G. and Jenkinson, K. (2021) Scottish Government consultation on its draft Heat in Buildings Strategy. CREDS Consultation response.

2020

• Killip, G. (2020) A reform agenda for UK construction education and practice. Buildings and Cities, 1(1): 525-537.
• Killip, G. and Owen, A. (2020) The construction industry as agents of energy demand configuration in the existing housing stock. Energy Policy, 147. 111816.

2019

• Eyre, N. and Killip, G. (eds.) (2019) Shifting the focus: energy demand in a net-zero carbon UK. Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS)
• Ketsopoulou, I., Taylor, P. and Watson, J. (eds.) (2019) Disrupting the UK energy system: causes, impacts and policy implications. UKERC: UK Energy Research Centre 40 pp. UKERC Research Report. (Brand, C. and Killip, G. contributing authors).
• Killip, G., Fawcett, T., Cooremans, C., Wijns-Craus, W., Kirshnan, S. and Vosswinkel, F. (2019) Multiple benefits of energy efficiency at the firm level: a literature review. Proceedings of ECEEE Summer Study - Belambra Presquile de Giens, France.
• Topouzi, M., Fawcett, T., Killip, G. and Owen, A. (2019) Deep retrofit approaches: managing risks to minimise the energy performance gap. Proceedings of ECEEE Summer Study - Belambra Presquile de Giens, France.

2018

• Fawcett, T. and Killip, G. (2018) Re-thinking energy efficiency in European policy: Practitioners’ use of ‘multiple benefits’ arguments. Journal of Cleaner Production.
• Killip, G., Owen, A., Morgan, E. and Topouzi, M. (2018) A co-evolutionary approach to understanding construction industry innovation in renovation practices for low-carbon outcomes. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

2017

• Killip, G., Own, A., Topouzi, M. and Morgan, M. (2017) Governance of Low-carbon Innovation in Domestic Energy Retrofits in the UK. The International Refurbishment Symposium: Conference Papers. The International Refurbishment Symposium, 15 Sep 2017, Institution of Engineering and Technology, London.. 19-24.
• Topouzi, M., Killip, G. and Owen, A. (2017) Learning from 'horror' stories: a plan of work to reduce the performance gap in deep retrofit. Proceedings of 33rd Passive and Low Energy Buildings (PLEA) International Conference, 2th-5th July 2017. Edinburgh, NCEUB.
• Topouzi, M., Killip, G. and Owen, A. (2017) Retrofit ‘daemons’ in the process of low-carbon housing stock renovation. Proceedings of ECEEE Summer Study - Belambra Presquile de Giens, France.

2015

• Killip, G. (2015) Low-carbon skills development in UK construction. CLR News: Construction Labour, Work and Climate Change, 4: 38-49.
• Killip, G. and Beillan, V. (2015) Building Expertise : aperçus des enjeux de la rénovation énergétique des logements pour la filière construction en France et au Royaume-Uni. In, Zélem, M-C. et Beslay, C. (ed.) Sociologie de l'énergie: gouvernance et pratiques sociales. CNRS Editions, Paris. pp. 357-368.
• Killip, G., Eyre, N., Brand, C. and Patrick, J. (2015) Making the local economic case for low carbon – an Oxfordshire case study. Paper 3-253-15, eceee 2015 Summer Study on energy efficiency, Toulon/Hyères, France, 1st-6th June 2015.

2014

• Berry, S., Sharp, A., Hamilton, J. and Killip, G. (2014) Inspiring low-energy retrofits: the influence of ‘open home’ events. Building Research and Information, 42(4): 422-433.
• Darby, S.J., Griffin, P.W., Julien, A., Killip, G., Morton, C. and Summerfield, A. (2014) Insights on Energy Demand. Synthesis of Findings from the UKERC Phase 2 Demand Theme, 2009-2013 (Working Paper). UKERC Report UKERC/WP/ED/2014/001, UKERC: London.
• Fawcett, T. and Killip, G. (2014) Anatomy of low carbon retrofits: evidence from owner-occupied Superhomes. Building Research and Information, 42(4): 434-445.
• Fawcett, T., Killip, G. and Janda, K.B. (2014) Innovative practices in low carbon retrofit: Time, scale and business models. BEHAVE Conference, Oxford, UK, 3-4 September 2014.
• Janda, K.B., Killip, G. and Fawcett, T. (2014) Reducing Carbon from the “Middle-Out”: The Role of Builders in Domestic Refurbishment. Buildings, 4(4): 911-936.
• Killip, G., Fawcett, T. and Janda, K.B. (2014) Innovation in low-energy residential renovation: UK and France. Proceedings of the ICE - Energy,, 167(3): 117-124.
• Patrick, J., Killip, G., Brand, C., Augustine, A. and Eyre, N. (2014) Oxfordshire's Low Carbon Economy. Environmental Change Institute and Low Carbon Oxford

2013

• Fawcett, T., Killip, G. and Janda, K.B. (2013) Building Expertise: Identifying policy gaps and new ideas in housing eco-renovation in the UK and France. Proceedings of European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Summer Study 2013, Belambra Les Criques, France.
• Janda, K.B and Killip, G. (2013) Building Expertise: Renovation as Professional Innovation. Chapter 2 in, Hoffman, A. and Henn R. (eds.) Constructing Green: The Social Structures of Sustainability. MIT Press, Boston, USA. pp. 35-55.
• Killip, G. (2013) Products, practices and processes: exploring the innovation potential for low-carbon housing refurbishment among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK construction industry. Energy Policy, 62: 522-530.
• Killip, G. (2013) Transition management using a market transformation, approach: lessons for theory, research and practice, from the case of low-carbon housing refurbishment in, the UK. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 31: 876-892.
• Killip, G., Fawcett, T. and Blundel, R. (2013) Emerging models of environmentally sustainable enterprise: a comparative study of low-energy housing retrofit organisations in the UK and France. Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Annual Conference, Cardiff, 12th and 13th November 2013 (Social, Environmental and Ethical Enterprise track).
• Killip, G., Fawcett, T., Janda, K.B., Bellian, V. and Nosperger, S. (2013) Building Expertise: industry responses to the low-energy housing retrofit agenda in the UK and France. Proceedings of European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Summer Study 2013, Belambra Les Criques, France.

2012

• Killip, G. (2012) Beyond the Green Deal: Market Transformation for low-carbon housing refurbishment in the UK. Retrofit 2012 conference, University of Salford.

2011

• Killip, G. (2011) Can market transformation approaches apply to service markets? An investigation of innovation, learning, risk and reward in the case of low-carbon housing refurbishment in the UK. Proceedings of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Summer Study 2011, Hyeres, France.
• Killip, G. (2011) Implications of an 80% CO2 emissions reduction target for the UK housing refurbishment industry. Unpublished DPhil. Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford.
• Killip, G. (2011) Latent market opportunities for low-carbon housing refurbishment. Energy and People: Futures, Complexity and Challenges conference, University of Oxford.
• Nösperger, S., Killip, G. and Janda, K.B. (2011) Building Expertise: A System of Professions Approach to Low-Carbon Refurbishment in the UK and France. ECEEE Summer Study, Hyères, European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, 6-11 June. http://proceedings.eceee.org/vispanel.php?event=1.

2010

• Janda, K.B. and Killip, G. (2010) Building Expertise: A System of Professions Approach to Low-Carbon Practice. EASST 2010: Practicing Science and Technology, Performing the Social, Trento, Italy. European Association for the Study of Science and Technology, 2-4 September. http://events.unitn.it/en/easst010.
• Killip, G. (2010) Innovation in service markets for a low-carbon future and the privileged status of policy in shaping sociotechnical change: lessons from housing refurbishment in the UK., SPRU, University of Sussex, UK. Paper presented at the Energy transitions conference, February 2010.

2009

• Hamilton, J. and Killip, G. (2009) Demonstration, inspiration … replication? Assessing the impact and limits of social learning from Eco-homes Open Days in the UK. at ECEEE Summer Study, La Colle sur Loup, European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Poster presentation..

2008

• Killip, G. (2008) Climate change and the existing housing stock. Chartered Institute of Housing. pp. 253. ISBN: 9781905018604.
• Killip, G. (2008) It's the Size of the Reduction Target, Stupid! The Need for a Wholesale Re-Think of Energy Efficiency Policy in UK Housing. American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.
• Killip, G. and University of Oxford (2008) Building a Greener Britain: Transforming the UK's Existing Housing Stock.(5)Ingram, J. (ed.) Environmental Change Institute (ECI) 35 pp.

2007

• Hinnells, M., Boardman, B., Darby, S., Killip, G. and Layberry, R. (2007) Transforming UK homes: achieving a 60 % cut in carbon emissions by 2050. ECEEE Summer Study, paper 5356, Nice, European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
• Hinnells, M., Boardman, B., Layberry, R., Darby, S. and Killip, G. (2007) The UK Housing Stock 2005 to 2050: Assumptions used in Scenarios and Sensitivity Analysis in UKDCM2. Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford 48 pp.

2006

• Palmer, J., Boardman, B., Bottrill, C., Darby, S., Hinnells, M., Killip, G., Layberry, R. and Lovell, H. (2006) Reducing the environmental impact of housing. Final Report, Consultancy study in support of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollutions 26th Report on the Urban Environment.

2005

• Boardman, B., Darby, S., Killip, G., Hinnells, M., Jardine, C., Palmer, J. and Sinden, G. (2005) 40% House. Environmental Change Institute. Research Report 31.