| Title |
Achieving sustainability transitions in residential energy use across Europe: The importance of problem framings |
| ID_Doc |
75762 |
| Authors |
Jensen, CL; Goggins, G; Ropke, I; Fahy, F |
| Title |
Achieving sustainability transitions in residential energy use across Europe: The importance of problem framings |
| Year |
2019 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110927 |
| Abstract |
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector is central to European energy policy. However, the speed and scale of sustainable energy transitions need to accelerate. There is a growing consensus that meeting energy targets is highly dependent on interrelated socio-material and cultural aspects of energy use. New ways of framing energy demand that go beyond dominant efficiency- and behavior models are needed. Recognizing these concerns, this paper reports on a review of 1067 Sustainable Energy Consumption Initiatives (SECIs) that aim to reduce residential energy use across 30 European countries. The initiatives are categorized and a corresponding Problem Framing Typology (PFT) is developed, highlighting important aspects of different types of problem framings. The typology contains four categories including 1) Changes in technology; 2) Changes in individual behavior; 3) Changes in everyday life situations; 4) and Changes in complex interactions. Applying the PFT to the 1067 SECIs shows that the vast majority (75%) of SECIs are positioned within category 1 and 2, indicating a lingering bias towards technocratic consumer behavioral strategies. The limitations of such approaches are discussed, and it is argued that systematically addressing interactions between technology, businesses, culture and everyday-life is more likely to lead to long-term transformation. |
| Author Keywords |
Energy demand; Energy policy; Problem framings; Practices; Systems perspectives; Sustainable development |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) |
| EID |
WOS:000496896800031 |
| WoS Category |
Economics; Energy & Fuels; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies |
| Research Area |
Business & Economics; Energy & Fuels; Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
| PDF |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110927
|