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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number ES/I007504/1
Title The role of community-based initiatives in energy saving
Status Completed
Energy Categories Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 50%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 75%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 25%;
Principal Investigator Professor G (Graham ) Smith
No email address given
School of Social Sciences
University of Southampton
Award Type Standard
Funding Source ESRC
Start Date 01 October 2010
End Date 30 October 2012
Duration 25 months
Total Grant Value £789,357
Industrial Sectors No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Region South East
Programme
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor G (Graham ) Smith , School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton (99.995%)
  Other Investigator Dr PAB (Patrick ) James , Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton (0.001%)
Dr N (Nicholas ) Woodman , Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton (0.001%)
Dr MM (Milena ) Buchs , School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton (0.001%)
Dr C (Clare ) Saunders , School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton (0.001%)
Dr N (Nick ) Bardsley , School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading (0.001%)
Web Site https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FI007504%2F1
Objectives NB This project was given an extension - see also ES/I007504/2
Abstract This project aims to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the role that community-based initiatives can play in fostering net energy savings in UK households. The project adopts a mixed-methods approach and is a collaboration between social scientists and engineers. The main element is an innovative field experiment: a matched case and control trial in which households in both treatment and control groups receive cavity wall and loft insulation. In the treatment group, the insulation is delivered as part of an ongoing community project promoting low-carbon lifestyles. The energy use of the households will be monitored over four heating seasons to discover if the community-based initiative has any significant impact on net energy savings. Regular surveys and selected semi-structured interviews with participants in the treatment and control groups will provide insights into changes in participants attitudes and practices, including their broader consumption patterns.

A second strand of research offers a comparative dimension: comparing the experimental results with the activities and impact of a wider range of community initiatives focused on domestic energy reduction across the UK.
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Added to Database 06/02/12