Social Aspects of Energy Innovations - Public Perceptions of Energy Technologies

Contextualising behavioural change in energy programmes involving intermediaries and policymaking organizations working towards changing behaviour

Project aim
Develop and disseminate a theoretically rich but practical conceptual model and toolkit of the social and technical change involved in demand side management programmes.

Background

• Europe could save at least 20% of its present energy consumption in a cost-effective manner, but why has this potential not been captured?
• People are positive toward energy conservation and could save money but why are policies & programmes not more effective?
• Aim to shift the European energy market toward energy services (e.g., thermal comfort) but need to understand end-user behaviour and needs.
• Exchange of best practices & development of innovative programmes are important means but also need to take into account the influence of actors, context and timing.

Project
Changing Behaviour is a project that aims to support change in energy use and energy services of consumers and small and medium enterprises. We do so by applying social research on technological change to practical use. Our focus is on the interaction between energy experts and energy users: How can these different groups learn to understand each other better?

Changing Behaviour is an action research project. Researchers and practitioners work together to develop, test and refine tools for improved interaction that are sensitive to context, timing and the needs of different users and stakeholders.

Changing Behaviour is a European project that is funded by the EU 7th Framework Programme Energy theme (contract number: 213217). The project partners are from Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the UK.

See for more information the project site www.energychange.info or contact Ynke Feenstra

The MECHanisms Toolkit to support managers of energy efficiency projects is now free available at http://mechanisms.energychange.info