The transition towards a more sustainable energy system is urgent for addressing global environmental and social challenges, and will require transformative changes including improved energy efficiency in the built environment. To reach identified efficiency potentials, various policy instruments have been introduced but their effects are often unclear. In this paper, we argue that the outline of transformative policy strategies will require well-designed evaluations. The objective is to present a theory-based evaluation framework that can be used to assess existing evaluations, in order to support transformative policy strategies. The framework is also applied to provide insights from current Swedish evaluation practices. The theory-based evaluation framework presented builds on evaluation theory, policy analysis and transition research and is arranged around methods, value judgements and use of the evaluations. Moreover, key aspects from transition research are included to provide guidance for transformative efforts in the evaluations. The systematic review presented in the paper is qualitative, covering 33 policy evaluations for energy efficiency in buildings in Sweden, commissioned by Swedish governmental authorities over a decade. The results of the review reveal a wide range of evaluations undertaken, using a sound methodological evaluation base that builds on a variety of methods for analysis, and application of multi-criteria analyses. Commonly, however, a rather narrow scope was applied and we note a missed opportunity for triangulation of findings. Key aspects for capturing transformative efforts, such as system-, scale- and multi-actor approaches, as well as visioning, experimentation and learning, were considered to varying extents, but could be more explicit and elaborate. In all, we find the proposed theory-based evaluation framework useful for assessing and discussing both robustness and transformative efforts of current policy and evaluation practices. The review of the Swedish policy evaluations further indicates sound evaluation practices, and a foundational structure for identifying and analysing transformative efforts. To fully support transformative changes, we suggest a wider system perspective and a more thorough multi-actor approach and actor involvement in the evaluations. We also stress the need to further link evaluation theory with transition research to design evaluations that can support transformative changes in society.

中文翻译：

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能源效率的过渡治理-从瑞典政策评估实践的系统回顾中得出的见解

向更可持续的能源系统过渡对于解决全球环境和社会挑战是紧迫的，并且将要求进行变革，包括改善建筑环境中的能源效率。为了达到已确定的效率潜力，已引入了各种政策工具，但其效果通常不清楚。在本文中，我们认为，变革性政策战略的大纲将需要精心设计的评估。目的是提出一个基于理论的评估框架，该框架可用于评估现有评估，以支持变革性政策策略。该框架还用于提供当前瑞典评估实践的见解。提出的基于理论的评估框架建立在评估理论的基础之上，政策分析和过渡研究，并围绕方法，价值判断和评估的使用进行安排。此外，还包括过渡研究的关键方面，以为评估中的变革性工作提供指导。本文中提出的系统评价是定性的，涵盖了瑞典政府机构十年来委托进行的33项关于瑞典建筑节能的政策评估。审查的结果揭示了使用合理的方法学评估基础进行的广泛评估，该基础基于各种分析方法和多标准分析的应用。但是，通常情况下，适用范围相当狭窄，我们注意到缺少对结果进行三角测量的机会。捕获变革性工作的关键方面，例如系统，规模和多角色方法以及远景，实验和学习在不同程度上被认为是可行的，但可能会更加明确和详尽。总而言之，我们发现所提出的基于理论的评估框架可用于评估和讨论当前政策和评估实践的稳健性和变革性努力。瑞典政策评估的审查进一步表明了良好的评估实践，以及确定和分析变革性工作的基础结构。为了全面支持变革性变革，我们建议采用更广阔的系统视角，采用更全面的多角色方法，并让参与者参与评估。我们还强调需要将评估理论与过渡研究进一步联系起来，以设计能够支持社会变革的评估。