Energy related behaviour change

Dr Heather LovellSchool of GeoSciences

University of Edinburgh2nd Feb 2012

Introduction

1. What is energy behaviour change?

2. What do people in Scotland think about energy behaviour change?

3. Questions & discussion

1. What is energy related behaviour change?

• Usual definition: behaviours that reduce energy demand in the home, undertaken by householders

• Broad definition: Behaviours that influence energy demand in the home, undertaken by householders and housebuilders/landlords & utilities

Both sides of the equationProducers Users

Social housing sector as leadern/a

10%Other6%

Private8%

Self Build23%

Local Authority

15%

Social Housing

38%

Figure 3 – Initiators of UK low energy housing by tenuresource: Lovell (2005)

Heat and the City project: sustainable heat and energy conservation

• UK Research Councils - Energy programme funding

• Four year project

• Edinburgh and Strathclyde Universities

• Multidisciplinary team

What we are doing

• Successful community heating development– UK and European experience

• Case studies Years 2-4– Edinburgh and Glasgow

• Collaborative research approach

Householder district heating surveys

• Cables Wynd, Leith, Edinburgh – district heating installation in progress (c.200 homes)

• Wyndford Estate, Maryhill, Glasgow – district heating/CHP installed in late 2012 (c.1500 homes)

2. What do people in Scotland think about energy behaviour change?

• Scottish Environmental Attitudes and Behaviour Survey (2008)

• Face-to-face interviews with c3000 people in late 2008

Knowledge about Climate Change?

Main Actions Likely to Ameliorate Climate Change?

• Recycling (45%)

• Avoiding waste (36%)

• Using a more fuel efficient car (32%)

• Taking fewer foreign holidays (12%)

Interpretation 1

• Kerbside recycling plus information has made an impact

• Public measures, which make change in behaviour practical, convenient and ‘cost free’, work!

Interpretation 2 - ‘we all do a little’?

• Does the fact that 45% cite recycling as priority mean that people believe they can fix the problem by minor adaptations to lifestyle?

• What level of understanding?

Interpretation 3 - question assumes individual responsibility?

• Answers based on choice of 13 ‘individual’ actions

• Opportunity to say ‘none of these’ • But not to give an answer which prioritises:

– Collective responsibility

– Or use of government powers of regulation in energy supply, building standards, environment…

– Or major investment in infrastructure: public transport, renewable energy, micro-generation etc

Environmental problems require societal solutions

• Societies respond differently to environmental damage

• Depending on political, economic and social institutions

• Users & producers

Any questions?

• Heat and the City Project: Edinburgh & Strathclyde Universities

• http://www.heatandthecity.org.uk/

• heather.lovell@ed.ac.uk