Projects
Projects: Custom Search |
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| Reference Number | ES/K009516/1 | |
| Title | 'Smarter' homes?: a netnographic exploration of low carbon living | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Energy Efficiency (Residential and commercial) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies) 50%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 25%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment) 25%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr L Reid No email address given Geography and Geosciences University of St Andrews |
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| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | ESRC | |
| Start Date | 01 October 2013 | |
| End Date | 30 September 2016 | |
| Duration | 36 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £126,616 | |
| Industrial Sectors | ||
| Region | Scotland | |
| Programme | Training | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr L Reid , Geography and Geosciences, University of St Andrews (100.000%) |
| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | With growing concerns about climate change and energy security, how we use energy in the UK is receiving more attention than ever before. The way in which we use energy in our homes has been at the forefront of this attention (Lovell 2004) given recent high-profile recognition that it constitutes 24% of carbon emissions in the UK (Stern 2006). There have therefore been many attempts to try and reduce the amount of energy used in our homes, for instance, through the introduction of domestic energy-efficiency infrastructure, technology and appliances (Hand et al., 2007).The desire to make our homes as efficient as possible and reduce the amount of carbon used per home has resulted in the UK government, like many other governments around the world, developing a low carbon strategy. Low carbon is a relatively new term used to describe activities that have a minimal output of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, and governments have developed sophisticated policies to deliver new low carbon economies (While et al., 2010). Accordingly, low carbon housing is that which has a minimal output of carbon dioxide and the term is used to describe a wide range of housing types, for instance, those which meet or exceed specific environmental standards (e.g. UK Code for Sustainable Homes), for example passiv houses.However, recent research indicates that although the energy efficiency of homes has risen steadily over the last 30 years, there has not been a reduction in domestic energy consumption (McManus et al., 2010, Steg & Vlek 2009). So, for example, despite the installation of technology like loft and cavity wall insulation and low-energy appliances, households are using ever more energy. In addition, research has demonstrated that occupants of low carbon homes often find methods to bypass low carbon solutions (e.g. installing radiators or removing devices which impeed the flow of hot water in the shower) in order to prevent the curtailment of their activities (Gill et al., 2010). This phenomena is called the 'rebound effect' where any savings made in energy use are less than the expected savings because householders adapt their behaviour.As such, it has been argued that the focus of funding and research should not simply rest on developing more 'technological' solutions to energy efficiency, but instead, that more resources should be directed towards understanding why this rebound effect occurs by exploring the behaviours or experiences of householders who live in low carbon homes. To do so, this project will work with 50 households who live in low carbon homes across 5 fieldwork sites (3 in the UK, 2 in the Netherlands).A range of research methods will be used. Firstly, data collected by the developers of these sites about the performance of the housing and satisfaction of the householders will be collected and compared. The second element of the project will be online. Householders will be asked to take photographs and keepan online journal for three weeks (uploading the photographs into the journal). The photographs and written entries will capture everyday household life and the practices which they think use energy. During this period, householders will also be invited to participate in an online discussion forum with other householders in the project to discuss their experiences of project participation, compare photo-journal content and, consider the differences in energy demand and consumption.By collaborating with other academics, housing professionals, and policy makers in this project through mechanisms such as seminars and a placement, the intention is to identify where future strategy on building technology and associated household practices might be directed, and propose ways in which these may be implemented. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 07/01/15 | |
