Gavin’s research focuses on finding real-world solutions for a more sustainable built environment, including the development of feedback and learning processes into everyday practice. He works mainly with the construction industry and others who are expected to deliver energy and sustainability solutions, but whose views of risks and opportunities are often ignored in policy debates.
Gavin takes 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 (and interactions between) relevant systems.
Most of his research focus has been on existing housing in the context of climate change mitigation – investigating the possibility of market transformation for the construction industry providing repair, maintenance and improvement services. He is interested in policy and governance; market transformation; innovation and industry culture; education and training systems; the role of institutions in support of sustainable development.
Gavin has a DPhil from Oxford in Environmental Change & Management, an MSc in Advanced Energy and Environmental Studies, and a BA in Linguistics.
