Madsen, L V (2018) Materialities shape practices and notions of comfort in everyday life. Building Research & Information, 46(1), pp. 71-82. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
The development of residential energy technologies aims to ensure thermal comfort in an increasingly energy-efficient manner. This development influences everyday practices related to comfort in everyday life in dwellings. Therefore, an empirical analysis of interviews with residents in three types of Danish detached houses, related to the building age, is used to understand how changes in technologies influence residents' practices and notions of comfort. Detached houses are the most widespread type of housing in Denmark, constituting 44% of the housing stock. The analysis focuses on differences in heating systems between the housing types and shows how changes in technologies and material structures shape the practices of heating and airing. A shift in technology from radiators to underfloor heating was found to make a clear difference in both how houses are heated and thermal comfort is perceived. It is found that changes in material structures of houses consequently change residents' perceptions of comfort and the related everyday practices. A more nuanced set of notions of comfort is developed in relation to different practices, and specifically the relation between airing and heating practices, as well as the context of seasons and the outdoors.;The development of residential energy technologies aims to ensure thermal comfort in an increasingly energy-efficient manner. This development influences everyday practices related to comfort in everyday life in dwellings. Therefore, an empirical analysis of interviews with residents in three types of Danish detached houses, related to the building age, is used to understand how changes in technologies influence residents' practices and notions of comfort. Detached houses are the most widespread type of housing in Denmark, constituting 44% of the housing stock. The analysis focuses on differences in heating systems between the housing types and shows how changes in technologies and material structures shape the practices of heating and airing. A shift in technology from radiators to underfloor heating was found to make a clear difference in both how houses are heated and thermal comfort is perceived. It is found that changes in material structures of houses consequently change residents' perceptions of comfort and the related everyday practices. A more nuanced set of notions of comfort is developed in relation to different practices, and specifically the relation between airing and heating practices, as well as the context of seasons and the outdoors.;
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | housing; everyday life; domestic heating; social practices; inhabitant behaviour; thermal comfort; energy consumption; users; occupants; homeowners; space heating; Heating systems; Houses; Empirical analysis; Radiators; Residential areas; Residential development; Energy technology; Heating; Energy efficiency; Residential energy; Dwellings |
| Index terms: | residential development, comfort, thermal comfort, energy consumption, residential area, building age, everyday life, heating system, domestic heating, energy efficiency, housing, energy technology, inhabitant behaviour, Denmark, social practice, space heating, homeowner, housing stock, residential energy, materiality, radiator, interview |
| Subjects: | mechanical systems, data collection methods, construction type, zoning, sustainability and energy, innovation and technology management, energy systems, economic development, social theory, Geography, sociology, asset management, occupational health and safety management, environmental engineering, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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