Challenging energy-related practices: Evidence from a Living Lab approach with 306 European households

Keywords: sustainable consumption, energy, lifestyles, Living Labs
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 34

Abstract

Reducing domestic energy use remains a key focus in achieving national and international sustainability goals. ENERGISE is a Horizon 2020 project with the aim to directly observe existing energy-related behaviours and practices in a real-world setting and to test both household and community-level initiatives to reduce energy use. Energy Living Labs were implemented among over 300 households across 8 countries from September to December 2018. Participating households agreed to engage in two main challenges: a laundry challenge and a heating challenge. These challenges were co-designed to create a disruption in everyday life, involving habits and routines that can be difficult to change. Data collection involved energy-meters, laundry and heating diaries, interviews, focus group discussions and weekly surveys. Findings demonstrate that for most households who participated in the study, reducing indoor temperatures by at least 1C in the heating season and reducing laundry by one cycle per week is possible, without compromising convenience and comfort. In some cases, reductions were even more significant, and in many instances, changes were maintained for three months after the challenges when the ENERGISE team conducted a follow-up study. This study provides strong evidence that shifts toward sustainable lifestyles are possible when people are given the time and space for experimentation and prompted to question their usual practices and perceived social norms.