Heat and the City: Comparing the trajectory of sustainable heat and energy conservation in the municipal communities of Glasgow and Edinburgh

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources
Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)

Basic and strategic applied research
Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Town and Country Planning)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Psychology)

Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance)

Professor J Webb
School of Social and Political Science
University of Edinburgh

Standard

ESRC

01 October 2010

30 December 2014

51 months

£824,076

No relevance to Underpinning Sectors

Scotland

Professor J Webb, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh

Mr R Bellingham, Business School, University of Strathclyde
Dr A Kerr, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Dr H Lovell, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Prof D McCrone, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh
Dr M Winskel, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh

This research examines the challenge of establishing sustainable heating in Northern European cities. Two approaches dominate debate about energy use. One puts the onus on government legislation, while the other focuses on changing behaviour. This project, on the other hand, looks at city-scale communities, and argues that problems of rising energy demand and carbon emissions might best be tackled at this level. The focus is on Glasgow and Edinburgh, where researchers will work closely with community groups and public and private partners. Experience in Northern Europe, will be examined for lessons transferable to the UK. Main questions are: Is community engagement the key to success? Are the constraints more social and political than 'technical'? Are successful projects dependent on a 'community of practice', bringing together technical experts, finance, and locals? Are city councils key leaders and intermediaries? After reviewing renewable heat systems in Northern Europe to identify social, political and technical factors which matter, the regulatory structures and policies which govern UK heating will be examined, and political, economic and community structures in Glasgow and Edinburgh will be mapped. Later the focus is on local area studies in each city.

Abstract not supplied

16/02/12