Exploring diverse drivers behind hybrid heating solutions

Abstract

How do individuals reflect on and relate to hybrid heating arrangements and the ‘stacking’ of heating modes in their home? Drawing on a set of oral histories (n = 110) collected in Finland, inhabitants’ long-standing engagement with versatile heating arrangements is explored. This is not a novel phenomenon but one that has evolved over time. The reasons and motivations for stacking of heating modes is situated in the themes of preparedness, thermal delight, everyday activities and the environment. In addition, the main drawbacks of hybrid heating systems, including financial limitations and hybridity as a tool to alleviate energy vulnerability pressures, are analysed. This nuanced perspective on heating transitions illustrates heating transitions as complex, contextual processes that are constantly negotiated at the level of the dwelling. As a hybrid system, it combines both technologies and everyday activities flexibly. Leveraging experiences with hybridity in domestic heating requires a holistic understanding and is crucial for the development of sustainable heating futures. PRACTICE RELEVANCE Domestic heating systems have been shaped by hybridity in the Finnish context. New insights are provided on the drivers behind individuals’ engagement with hybrid heating systems: the key role played by thermal delight and everyday activities, as well as the drawbacks of hybrid heating systems. This can support a more nuanced debate on how best to utilise existing hybrid heating systems and support the development of new hybrid solutions in the home. Hybridity should be included as a key component in facilitating sustainable and inclusive domestic heating transitions. © 2025 The Author(s).