Crosbie, T and Baker, K (2010) Energy-efficiency interventions in housing: Learning from the inhabitants. Building Research & Information, 38(1), pp. 70-79. ISSN 0961-3218
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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cfl bulbs; energy demand; energy efficiency; housing; inhabitants; lighting; user acceptance; user behaviour |
| Index terms: | aesthetic, energy reduction, lifestyle, energy efficiency, interview, efficiency, energy demand, cooperation, housing, household, effectiveness |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, construction type, energy systems, psychology, sustainability and energy, factor and component analysis, performance management, demography |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Design Practice, Quality Management, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Sustainability, Construction Technology |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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