energy solutionsfor better buildings
Finding local opportunities for energy efficiency in households
722 visits
Posting Date | 26 February 2010Publication Date | 2009
Country | Sweden
Geographic Coverage | International
Theme | Socio-economics and finances related to energy conservation and renewable energy in buildings, General, Training and education
Target Group | Local/regional/national authorities and facilitators, Building professionals, Building occupants
Type of publication | Article
Publisher | eceee (European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)
Number pages | 18
Submitted by François Durier (CETIAT )
Source Languages | English
Finding local opportunities for energy efficiency in households
Household interest in the environment increased in the 1990s, and environmental protection has been
cited as a reason for becoming more energy efficient. However, people’s attitudes concerning
sustainable development and their stated willingness to behave in environmentally sustainable ways do
not always have affect their actual behavior. Good intentions are not always translated into actual
everyday practices. How can this be explained? More importantly, how can this be changed so that
good intentions are also implemented in people’s routines? This article discusses household energy efficiency in relation to “local opportunities” to act in energy-efficient ways. In what situations do these opportunities occur in households? When is it possible to reach households and help them change their routines and behavior, making them more energy efficient? How can one develop household-directed policy measures that exploit local opportunities for reducing energy use and increasing the implementation of energy-efficiency measures. These general matters are discussed drawing on material from in-depth interviews with energy consultants and householders in Sweden.
Paper presented at the First European conference on energy efficiency and behaviour 2009