Parkhurst, G and Parnaby, R (2008) Growth in mobile air-conditioning: A socio-technical research agenda. Building Research & Information, 36(4), pp. 351-362. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
The recent growth in European use of mobile air-conditioning (MAC) in transport is examined with reference to the experience of the longer-established trend in the buildings sector and to experience in the US. Air-conditioning is identified as significantly undermining improvements in energy efficiency, whilst the penetration of MAC is observed as having been particularly rapid and deep compared with static air-conditioning (SAC). A conceptual framework for the adoption of MAC is then proposed, which draws on sociological and psychological concepts as well as technical considerations in characterizing the processes influencing the adoption and use of MAC. The availability of empirical evidence to validate this model is then considered, with the finding that significant gaps in knowledge exist about why MAC is adopted, who benefits from its adoption, how the systems are used in practice, and the extent of satisfaction of travellers with the comfort of the environments of 'mobile buildings'. Although social norms and behaviour with respect to MAC are flexible, and hence subject to influence by climate change policy, significant further research is required to inform the specification of that policy.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | air-conditioning; climate change; comfort; consumer behaviour; energy efficiency; mobile air-conditioning; transport; user behaviour |
| Index terms: | penetration, conceptual framework, climate change, consumer behaviour, evidence, comfort, social norms, energy efficiency, research agenda, satisfaction, specification, socio-technical |
| Subjects: | project delivery, sustainability and energy, climate science, consumer economics, evaluation and assessment methods, research management, social justice, market analysis, occupational health and safety management, contractual condition, research methods, theoretical framing |
| Topics: | Ethics, Contract Administration, Health and Safety, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here