Open Access
What's Missing in Theories of the Residential Energy User
Mithra Moezzi,Loren Lutzenhiser +1 more
TLDR
In this paper, the authors outline assumptions of core theories about household energy use and identify a new set of blind spots created by overly simple reliance on models and by data shortcomings that in combination may block development of a more sophisticated understanding of energy use.Abstract:
Residential energy use has been envisioned in varied ways, each highlighting different factors and capturing a partial truth. This paper outlines assumptions of core theories about household energy use. It gives an abbreviated list of major empirical findings framed by these theories. It then identifies a new set of “blind spots” created by overly-simple reliance on models and by data shortcomings that in combination may block development of a more sophisticated understanding of energy use. Policies and program strategies, in turn, can become oriented toward simplistic approaches to change. We point to the need for improved interpretation and elaboration of existing theories, and accordingly toward richer comprehension of energy users and the dynamics of energy use, suitable to the wider policy world of climate change and sustainability that the energy use research field now faces.read more
Citations
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Comfort, cleanliness and conveniencethe social organization ofnormality
TL;DR: Shove as discussed by the authors investigated the evolution of these changes, as well as the social meaning of the practices themselves, concluding that routine consumption is controlled by conceptions of normality and profoundly shaped by cultural and economic forces, and that habits are not just changing, but are changing in ways that imply escalating and standardizing patterns of consumption.
Journal ArticleDOI
Lifestyle Factors in U.S. Residential Electricity Consumption
TL;DR: In this paper, a multivariate statistical approach to lifestyle analysis of residential electricity consumption is described and illustrated, and the implications for tailored policy and planning interventions are discussed in relation to lifestyle issues.
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From “if only” to “social potential” in schemes to reduce building energy use
Mithra Moezzi,Kathryn B. Janda +1 more
TL;DR: The authors discuss a notion of social potential that affords a broader possible contribution of social sciences to improved understanding of building energy use and how policies might reshape this use and suggest social potential as a formulation that complements and transcends the technical and behavioral savings potential concepts underpinning much of today's building energy efficiency policies, programs, and research.
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A review of comfort, health, and energy use : Understanding daily energy use and wellbeing for the development of a new approach to study comfort
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the relationship between comfort, health, and building energy consumption is presented, with the connection between energy and behaviours-detailed possible explanations of performance gaps, and the pathways from energy to health.
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What drives our behaviors in buildings? A review on occupant interactions with building systems from the lens of behavioral theories
Arsalan Heydarian,Claire McIlvennie,Laura M. Arpan,Siavash Yousefi,Marc Syndicus,Marcel Schweiker,Marcel Schweiker,Farrokh Jazizadeh,Romina Rissetto,Anna Laura Pisello,Cristina Piselli,Christiane Berger,Zhuxuan Yan,Ardeshir Mahdavi +13 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a structured literature review approach to investigate how different psychological, sociological, and economic theories have been applied to explain occupant interactions with heating and cooling (HVAC), opening windows and ventilation, lighting and shading, electronic appliances, domestic hot water, as well as energy conservation behaviors.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
New Environmental Theories: Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behavior
TL;DR: A conceptual framework for advancing theories of environmentally significant individual behavior and reports on the attempts of the author's research group and others to develop such a theory is developed in this article. But, it does not consider the effect of environmental concern on individual behavior.
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Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour : An integrative review and research agenda
Linda Steg,Charles Vlek +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the contribution and potential of environmental psychology for understanding and promoting pro-environmental behaviour is discussed. But, the authors focus on four main factors underlying human behaviour patterns: identification of the behaviour to be changed, examination of the main factors behind this behaviour, design and application of interventions to change behaviour to reduce environmental impact, and evaluation of the effects of interventions.
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The Constructive, Destructive, and Reconstructive Power of Social Norms
TL;DR: A field experiment in which normative messages were used to promote household energy conservation, offering an explanation for the mixed success of persuasive appeals based on social norms and suggesting how such appeals should be properly crafted.
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Beyond the ABC: Climate Change Policy and Theories of Social Change:
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reflect on what seems to be a yawning gulf between the potential contribution of the social sciences and the typically restricted models and assumptions and present a short and deliberately provocative paper.
Comfort, cleanliness and conveniencethe social organization ofnormality
TL;DR: Shove as discussed by the authors investigated the evolution of these changes, as well as the social meaning of the practices themselves, concluding that routine consumption is controlled by conceptions of normality and profoundly shaped by cultural and economic forces, and that habits are not just changing, but are changing in ways that imply escalating and standardizing patterns of consumption.