Energy-efficiency interventions in housing: learning from the inhabitants

Tracey Crosbie; Keith Baker

doi:10.1080/09613210903279326

Energy-efficiency interventions in housing: learning from the inhabitants

Tracey Crosbie, Keith Baker

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

80 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Technological solutions to domestic energy reduction are insufficient without the cooperation of inhabitants. It does not matter how much energy hypothetically could be saved by efficient technologies if no one wants to live in the properties, install or use efficient lighting and heating. Therefore, to improve the uptake and effectiveness of household energy-efficiency interventions, it is necessary to understand ‘why people react to particular energy-efficiency interventions in the ways they do?’ An analysis is presented of in-depth interviews with 50 inhabitants who participated in one of four domestic energy-efficiency interventions. The findings indicate that issues such as aesthetic tastes and effects on lifestyle are central to why people reject economically viable, simple and well-understood domestic energy-efficiency interventions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	70-79
Journal	Building Research & Information
Volume	38
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210903279326
Publication status	Published - 2010

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

CFL bulbs
energy demand
energy efficiency
housing
inhabitants
lighting
user acceptance
user behaviour

Access to Document

10.1080/09613210903279326

Cite this

@article{42b1752aef274943b31efd636513d47f,

title = "Energy-efficiency interventions in housing: learning from the inhabitants",

abstract = "Technological solutions to domestic energy reduction are insufficient without the cooperation of inhabitants. It does not matter how much energy hypothetically could be saved by efficient technologies if no one wants to live in the properties, install or use efficient lighting and heating. Therefore, to improve the uptake and effectiveness of household energy-efficiency interventions, it is necessary to understand {\textquoteleft}why people react to particular energy-efficiency interventions in the ways they do?{\textquoteright} An analysis is presented of in-depth interviews with 50 inhabitants who participated in one of four domestic energy-efficiency interventions. The findings indicate that issues such as aesthetic tastes and effects on lifestyle are central to why people reject economically viable, simple and well-understood domestic energy-efficiency interventions.",

keywords = "CFL bulbs, energy demand, energy efficiency, housing, inhabitants, lighting, user acceptance, user behaviour",

author = "Tracey Crosbie and Keith Baker",

note = "Les solutions technologiques {\`a} la r{\'e}duction de la consommation d'{\'e}nergie domestique ne peuvent suffire s'il n'y a pas de coop{\'e}ration de la part des habitants. Peu importe combien d'{\'e}nergie pourrait hypoth{\'e}tiquement {\^e}tre {\'e}conomis{\'e}e gr{\^a}ce {\`a} des technologies performantes si personne ne veut vivre dans de tels logements, installer ou utiliser un {\'e}clairage et du chauffage performants. Par cons{\'e}quent, afin d'am{\'e}liorer l'acceptation et l'efficacit{\'e} d'interventions destin{\'e}es {\`a} am{\'e}liorer le rendement {\'e}nerg{\'e}tique des logements, il est n{\'e}cessaire de comprendre « pourquoi les gens r{\'e}agissent comme ils le font {\`a} des interventions particuli{\`e}res qui visent {\`a} am{\'e}liorer le rendement {\'e}nerg{\'e}tique ? » Il est pr{\'e}sent{\'e} une analyse d'entretiens approfondis avec 50 habitants qui ont particip{\'e} {\`a} l'une des quatre interventions visant {\`a} am{\'e}liorer le rendement {\'e}nerg{\'e}tique des logements. Les constatations faites indiquent que les questions telles que les go{\^u}ts esth{\'e}tiques et les cons{\'e}quences sur le style de vie sont essentielles pour expliquer pourquoi les gens rejettent des interventions destin{\'e}es {\`a} am{\'e}liorer le rendement {\'e}nerg{\'e}tique des logements, qui sont {\'e}conomiquement viables, simples et bien comprises.",

year = "2010",

doi = "10.1080/09613210903279326",

language = "English",

volume = "38",

pages = "70--79",

journal = "Building Research \& Information",

issn = "0961-3218",

publisher = "Taylor \& Francis",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Energy-efficiency interventions in housing: learning from the inhabitants

AU - Crosbie, Tracey

AU - Baker, Keith

N1 - Les solutions technologiques à la réduction de la consommation d'énergie domestique ne peuvent suffire s'il n'y a pas de coopération de la part des habitants. Peu importe combien d'énergie pourrait hypothétiquement être économisée grâce à des technologies performantes si personne ne veut vivre dans de tels logements, installer ou utiliser un éclairage et du chauffage performants. Par conséquent, afin d'améliorer l'acceptation et l'efficacité d'interventions destinées à améliorer le rendement énergétique des logements, il est nécessaire de comprendre « pourquoi les gens réagissent comme ils le font à des interventions particulières qui visent à améliorer le rendement énergétique ? » Il est présenté une analyse d'entretiens approfondis avec 50 habitants qui ont participé à l'une des quatre interventions visant à améliorer le rendement énergétique des logements. Les constatations faites indiquent que les questions telles que les goûts esthétiques et les conséquences sur le style de vie sont essentielles pour expliquer pourquoi les gens rejettent des interventions destinées à améliorer le rendement énergétique des logements, qui sont économiquement viables, simples et bien comprises.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - Technological solutions to domestic energy reduction are insufficient without the cooperation of inhabitants. It does not matter how much energy hypothetically could be saved by efficient technologies if no one wants to live in the properties, install or use efficient lighting and heating. Therefore, to improve the uptake and effectiveness of household energy-efficiency interventions, it is necessary to understand ‘why people react to particular energy-efficiency interventions in the ways they do?’ An analysis is presented of in-depth interviews with 50 inhabitants who participated in one of four domestic energy-efficiency interventions. The findings indicate that issues such as aesthetic tastes and effects on lifestyle are central to why people reject economically viable, simple and well-understood domestic energy-efficiency interventions.

AB - Technological solutions to domestic energy reduction are insufficient without the cooperation of inhabitants. It does not matter how much energy hypothetically could be saved by efficient technologies if no one wants to live in the properties, install or use efficient lighting and heating. Therefore, to improve the uptake and effectiveness of household energy-efficiency interventions, it is necessary to understand ‘why people react to particular energy-efficiency interventions in the ways they do?’ An analysis is presented of in-depth interviews with 50 inhabitants who participated in one of four domestic energy-efficiency interventions. The findings indicate that issues such as aesthetic tastes and effects on lifestyle are central to why people reject economically viable, simple and well-understood domestic energy-efficiency interventions.

KW - CFL bulbs

KW - energy demand

KW - energy efficiency

KW - housing

KW - inhabitants

KW - lighting

KW - user acceptance

KW - user behaviour

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77649332325

U2 - 10.1080/09613210903279326

DO - 10.1080/09613210903279326

M3 - Article

SN - 0961-3218

SN - 1466-4321

VL - 38

SP - 70

EP - 79

JO - Building Research & Information

JF - Building Research & Information

IS - 1

ER -

Energy-efficiency interventions in housing: learning from the inhabitants

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this