Making energy visible: A qualitative field study of how householders interact with feedback from smart energy monitors

Hargreaves, Tom; Nye, Michael; Burgess, Jacquelin

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.05.068

Cited by 654 publications

(442 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Responding to this GEO (the technology developer) recruited a UEA research team to assist with the trial. Hargreaves et al (2010Hargreaves et al ( , 2013 describe several other forms of resistance to the governmentality of the IHDs in the VET trial (see also Hargreaves, 2014). Whilst many participants did use the monitors to develop an understanding of their normal electricity consumption, and indeed some developed a 'new' normal, the monitors did not produce significant examples of behaviour change or reconfigurations of the materiality of household energy consumption.…”

Section: Visible Energy Trialmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of smart meters one such dominant logic is that of 'making things easy', a logic that is prominent in both the development of domestic technology and in liberal political theory. This particular mode of participation therefore produces a public that requires specific assistance in order to participate; indeed the form that the assistance takes is in the provision of information, indicating how a second logic of smart meters is a tacit endorsement of information-deficit models of behaviour change (Hargreaves et al, 2010). The public are therefore framed as a particular form of consumer citizen, whereby a greater degree of 'consumer engagement' will shift the consumer from passive user to empowered and active part of the system (DECC, 2009, p. 19).…”

Section: Visible Energy Trialmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Throughout 2008Throughout -2009 households from across eastern England were recruited to trial three different types of In Home Display (IHD) of varying complexity, plus a control group. As part of this wider project, social scientists from the UEA also undertook longitudinal qualitative research with a smaller cohort of participants-15 'early adopter' households-exploring their day-to-day interactions with this novel technology (see Hargreaves, Nye, & Burgess, 2010. The enrolment of participating households varied according to the type of IHD.…”

Section: Visible Energy Trialmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Participation in Transition(s): Reconceiving Public Engagements in Energy Transitions as Co-Produced, Emergent and Diverse

Chilvers

Longhurst

2016

Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning

235

213

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This paper brings the transitions literature into conversation with constructivist Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspectives on participation for the first time.In doing so we put forward a conception of public and civil society engagement in sustainability transitions as co-produced, relational, and emergent. Through paying close attention to the ways in which the subjects, objects, and procedural formats of public engagement are constructed through the performance of participatory collectives, our approach offers a framework to open up to and symmetrically compare diverse and interconnected forms of participation that make up wider socio-technical systems. We apply this framework in a comparative analysis of four diverse cases of civil society involvement in UK low carbon energy transitions. This highlights similarities and differences in how these distinct participatory collectives are orchestrated, mediated, and subject to exclusions, as well as their effects in producing particular visions of the issue at stake and implicit models of participation and 'the public'. In conclusion we reflect on the value of this approach for opening up the politics of societal engagement in transitions, building systemic perspectives of interconnected 'ecologies of participation', and better accounting for the emergence, inherent uncertainties, and indeterminacies of all forms of participation in transitions.

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Section: Visible Energy Trialmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Visible Energy Trialmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Visible Energy Trialmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Participation in Transition(s): Reconceiving Public Engagements in Energy Transitions as Co-Produced, Emergent and Diverse

Chilvers

Longhurst

2016

Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning

235

213

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…social norms, lack of enabling infrastructure) that may prevent people from taking action even if they are inspired to do so (Gifford, 2011;Howell, 2011;Lorenzoni, Nicholson-Cole, and Whitmarsh, 2007). It can also be difficult to overcome the force of habit (Hargreaves, Nye, and Burgess, 2010;Oeuellette and Wood, 1998;Webb and Sheeran, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using the transtheoretical model of behavioural change to understand the processes through which climate change films might encourage mitigation action

Howell

2014

IJSD

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Using the transtheoretical model of behavioural change to understand the processes through which climate change films might encourage mitigation action Citation for published version: Howell, R 2014, 'Using the transtheoretical model of behavioural change to understand the processes through which climate change films might encourage mitigation action' International Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 17, no. 2, General rightsCopyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policyThe University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact openaccess@ed.ac.uk providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. change, but to engage them in taking mitigation action. This paper outlines the transtheoretical model of behavioural change, which incorporates six stages of change that individuals progress through as they change their behaviour, and ten associated processes of change. Using four climate change films as illustrations, I show how the model can be applied to identify the processes of change employed or depicted by sustainability communications. I then discuss research on the impacts of the films in the light of this analysis, considering the strengths and limitations of the movies' use/portrayal of processes of change with regard to encouraging viewers to change their behaviour. The paper concludes with recommendations for how film may be used more effectively as a tool to inspire climate change mitigation action.

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“…Different research activities have used this data with a persuasive intent to promote energy conservation. Many of the smart meters technologies, visualizations and applications created in this research area used quantitative data of energy using watt hour (Wh) or kilowatt hour (kWh) as main unit [3][4][5][6][7][8] While kWh is a familiar term for everyone paying electricity bills or selecting an appliance, it is a fairly abstract unit that may be difficult to relate to, as explored in [9]. Even if abstract, it is still a relevant unit, Wood and Newborough have argued that "The kWh is already familiar to most consumers and although few understand this unit, thorough comprehension is not necessary for an effective display" [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kilowh.at – Increasing Energy Awareness Using an Interactive Energy Comparison Tool

Hedin

Zapico

2017

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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Abstract:Reducing the use of energy is important for several reasons, such as saving money and reducing impact on the climate. However, the awareness among non-experts of how much energy is required by different activities is generally low, which can lead to wrong prioritizations. In this study, we have developed an interactive tool to increase "energy awareness". A group of 58 students first did a test to benchmark their current energy awareness, then tried the tool for 10 minutes, and then did the same test immediately after trying the prototype and one week after trying the prototype. In addition, they answered questions regarding which, if any, of the energy requirement of different activities surprised them, any thoughts about their own energy used aroused after using the prototype and what they thought about using the tool compared to more conventional methods of learning. The results showed a significant learning effect in energy awareness with a very strong effect size of 1.689, that they were most surprised by the energy required to produce a hamburger, 39 of 58 explicitly said they intended to change one or more aspects in order to improve their energy use, where 24 actions involved changing habits and 18 actions was of a one-time investment character. The attitude towards using such a tool instead of more conventional learning was very good and the words most frequently used to describe the tool was good, simple and easy to use, fun, and interesting, but five users also said they were bored after a while. In total the results indicate that using an interactive tool like this even for a limited time is a good way to in an efficient and fun way increase energy awareness.

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Making energy visible: A qualitative field study of how householders interact with feedback from smart energy monitors

Cited by 654 publications

References 21 publications

Participation in Transition(s): Reconceiving Public Engagements in Energy Transitions as Co-Produced, Emergent and Diverse

Participation in Transition(s): Reconceiving Public Engagements in Energy Transitions as Co-Produced, Emergent and Diverse

Using the transtheoretical model of behavioural change to understand the processes through which climate change films might encourage mitigation action

Kilowh.at – Increasing Energy Awareness Using an Interactive Energy Comparison Tool

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