Energy transition to sustainability : territorial implications of three transition models and analysis of the French transition model applied to the existing residential sector

Energy transition research (TEs) to sustainability leaves unanswered the question on the true sustainability of the TEs. Within the framework of a “disagreements understanding” process, we have highlighted the differences between TEs of low and strong sustainability. Then, we assessed whether the changes in the dynamics of thermal rehabilitations, especially for individual houses, can be part of efficient energy transition operations in France. This assessment was based on a longitudinal analysis of the dynamics of change within four co-evolving fields: cultural, organizational, institutional and infrastructural. Our results show that the energy transition process is still in its very early stages. What appears to hinder this process is not the absence of technical solutions, but rather a lack of organization and cooperation among the actors along with a cultural backwardness. Eventually, some tools have been analyzed in order to test their efficiency. We have pointed out that custom assistive devices (such as Oktave) are an important key of success and allow to implement logics of complex changes which are required to move towards a very high sustainability transition.