Domestic heating systems require a rapid shift to low-carbon options to meet global climate targets. We analyse a heat pump transition in two contrasting case studies: Finland and the United Kingdom, utilizing original data from interviews, document analysis, and archival online data. Finland has an almost completed transition, while the United Kingdom can be considered a stalled one. Building on previous research that has highlighted the importance of context, policy and users in transitions, we explore various user roles within low-carbon transitions, and how they shape processes of niche construction and regime destabilisation. Our findings show that the role of users is one key explanatory element of the different heat pump transitions. We also find that specific characteristics of a transition context can influence the types of users that emerge. We conclude that instead of just providing incentives, policy should also aim to mobilise users.

为了满足全球气候目标，家庭供暖系统需要迅速转向低碳选择。我们使用两个截然不同的案例研究来分析热泵的过渡：芬兰和英国，利用访谈，文档分析和存档在线数据中的原始数据。芬兰的过渡期已接近完成，而英国可谓停滞不前。在先前的研究强调过渡中的背景，政策和用户的重要性的基础上，我们探索了低碳过渡中的各种用户角色，以及它们如何塑造利基建设和政权不稳定的过程。我们的发现表明，用户的角色是不同热泵过渡过程的关键解释要素之一。我们还发现，过渡上下文的特定特征可能会影响出现的用户类型。我们得出的结论是，政策不仅要提供激励措施，还应着眼于动员用户。