Janet Stephenson "Energy Cultures as an integrative framework."
1. Energy Cultures as an
integrative framework
Dr Janet Stephenson
Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago
2. Energy cultures framework
1. Supporting research collaborations
2. Energy cultures at multiple sites and scales
3. Distinctive clusters of energy cultures
4. Habitual behaviour
5. Changing energy cultures
6. Energy cultures informing policy
7. Transitional change
4. An interdisciplinary collaboration
Prof. Gerry
Carrington
physics/
engineering
Dr Paul
Thorsnes
economics
Dr Janet Stephenson
sociology/
human geography
Prof. Rob Lawson
consumer
psychology
Prof. Barry Barton
law & policy
Dr John Williams
marketing
Dr Rebecca Ford
engineering
Dr Sara Walton
management
Dr David Rees
system dynamics
Dr Michelle Scott
psychology, HCI
Dr Debbie Hopkins
environmental
sociology
Alaric McCarthy
environmental
science
Dr Ben Wooliscroft
macro-marketing
Jane Khan,
project manager
Dr Mary Jo Lavelle
behavioural
geography
Stephenson, J., Lawson, R., Carrington, G., Barton, B., Thorsnes, P., & Mirosa, M. (2010b). The practice of interdisciplinarity.
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 5(7), 271-282.
Dr Miranda Mirosa
consumer behaviour
Dr Ikerne Aguirre-
Bielschowsky
environmental
education
(Dr) Daniel Gnoth
marketing
5. Many theories of behaviour & behaviour change
Individual
• Theory of Reasoned Action (Ajzen
& Fishbein, 1980; Fishbein &
Ajzen, 1975)
• Theory of Planned Behaviour
(Azjen 1985)
• Norm Activation Model
(Schwartz, 1977)
• Social Norms Approach (Perkins
& Berkowitz, 1986)
• Technology Acceptance Model
(Ventakesh & Bala 2010)
• Behavioural economics (Tversky
& Kahneman 1992)
• etc
Social/Contextual
• Systems thinking (von Bertalanffy
1968; Emery 1969, Midgley 2003,
Mingers & Brocklesby 1997)
• Structuration (Giddens 1979,
1984)
• Practice theory (Reckwitz 2002,
Batriaux et al 2014; Hand et al
2007; Shove 2004).
• Actor-network theory (Latour
1993, Law and Hassard 1999)
• Socio-technical systems (Smith
and Stirling 2007), multi-level
perspective (Geels 2002, 2004)
• etc
9. Material
culture
PracticesNorms
External
influences
External
influences
External
influences
External
influences
Stephenson, J., Barton, B., Carrington, G., Gnoth, D., Lawson, R., Thorsnes, P. (2010): Energy Cultures: A framework for understanding energy
behaviours. Energy Policy. 38: 6120–6129.
Stephenson, J., Barton, B., Carrington, G., Doering, A., Ford, R., Hopkins, D., Lawson, R., McCarthy, A., Rees, D., Scott, M., Thorsnes, P., Walton, S.,
Williams, J., & Wooliscroft, B. (2015). The energy cultures framework: Exploring the role of norms, practices and material culture in shaping
energy behaviour in New Zealand. Energy Research & Social Science, 7, 117-123.
14. Mirosa, M., Gnoth, D., Lawson, R., Stephenson, J. (June 2011) Rationalising energy-related behavior in the home: Insights from a
value-laddering approach. European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Summer Study, France, pp.2109-2119
Energy culture at a personal scale
15. Energy culture at a household scale
PracticesNorms
Material
culture
Wooliscroft, B. (2014) National Household Survey of Energy and Transportation. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago
16. Energy cultures within communities
King, G., Stephenson, J., & Ford, R. (2014). PV in Blueskin: Drivers, barriers and enablers of uptake of household photovoltaic
systems in the Blueskin communities, Otago, New Zealand. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
17. Energy cultures amongst businesses
Practices
Material
culture
Norms
Walton, S. (2015, March). Energy Behaviour of SMEs in New Zealand. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago.
18. Energy cultures in business sectors
Hopkins, D., & McCarthy, A. (2016). Change trends in urban freight delivery: a qualitative inquiry. Geoforum, 74, 158–170.
19. Energy cultures of societal groups
Hopkins, D., & Stephenson, J. (2014). Generation Y mobilities through the lens of energy cultures: a preliminary exploration of
mobility cultures. Journal of Transport Geography, 38, 88-91
20. Mobility cultures at a global scale
Stephenson, J., Hopkins, D., Doering, A. (2014). Conceptualizing transport transitions: Energy Cultures as an organizing
framework. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy & Environment 4:354–364.
Masdar’s Energy Culture of Experimentation
London’s Energy Culture of Diversity
Beijing’s Energy Culture of Speed
23. Mobility cultures
Urban freight
Global transport transitions
Young people
NZ transport transitions
Ford, R., Doering, A., Stephenson, J. (2014). Transport Transitions in New Zealand: A Scoping Study. Report prepared for the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Stephenson, J., Hopkins, D., & Doering, A. (2014). Conceptualizing transport transitions: Energy Cultures as an organizing
framework. WIREs Energy and Environment. doi:10.1002/wene.149
Hopkins, D., & Stephenson, J. (2014). Generation Y mobilities through the lens of energy cultures: a preliminary exploration of
mobility cultures. Journal of Transport Geography, 38 (2014), 88–91
Hopkins, D., & McCarthy, A. (2016). Change trends in urban freight delivery: a qualitative inquiry. Geoforum, 74, 158–170
24. Carbon cultures
Climate change mitigation by individuals
Climate change mitigation by individuals, households, businesses,
councils, government
Young, W., & Middlemiss, L. (2012). A rethink of how policy and social science approach changing individuals' actions on
greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Policy, 41, 742-747.
Sims, R., Barton. B., Bennett, P., Isaacs, N., Kerr, S., Leaver, J., Reisinger, A., Stephenson, J., Higham, J., Mason, E. (2016).
Transition to a low-carbon economy for New Zealand. Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington.
26. Households – in two dimensions
Lawson,R.,Williams,J. (December 2012). Understanding Energy Cultures. Annual conference of the Australia and New Zealand
Academy of Marketing (ANZMAC), University of New South Wales, Adelaide
28. Youth mobility cultures
1. Adopting automobility
2. Rejecting automobility
- Temporary
- Long term
Hopkins, D., & Stephenson, J (2015) Generation Y Mobilities. A report for Ministry of Transport. Centre for Sustainability,
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
29. Business energy cultures
1. Frugal
Not interested in energy but don't
overuse
Switch off to save costs
Don't see relationship between
energy and core business
2. Do more with less
Not interested in energy but don't
overuse
Developing ways to use energy more
productively
Don't see relationship between
energy and core business
3. Integrate
Interested in energy consumption
Developing and investing ways to use
energy more productively
Do see relationship between energy
and core business
4. Market it
Business built on being energy
efficient
Investing in ways to use energy more
productively
Actively build a relationship between
energy efficiency and core business
Walton, S. (2015, March). Energy Behaviour of SMEs in New Zealand. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago.
31. Material
culture
PracticesNorms
Static (habitual) energy cultures
Mirosa, M., Gnoth, D., Lawson, R., Stephenson, J. (June 2011) Rationalising energy-related behavior in the home: Insights from a
value-laddering approach. European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Summer Study, France, pp.2109-2119
32. Material
culture
PracticesNorms
Static energy culture – internally driven
“As a matter of
principle I don’t
like to waste.”
“I try not to turn
it on too much
because I try not
to use too much
electricity”
“My heating
system suits me, I
don’t need to
change”
33. Static energy culture – externally driven
Material
culture
Practices
“My flatmates
don’t want us to
use too much
power ‘cause they
want to spend
money on other
things”
“We’re in a rental
and there’s just
the heat pump in
the main room, so
the rest of the
house is pretty
cold”
Norms
“I just put on warm
clothes when its
cold. Its definitely
about money”
34. Static business cultures
Bell, M., G. Carrington, R. Lawson, J. Stephenson (2014). Socio-technical barriers to the use of low-emission timber drying
technology in New Zealand. Energy Policy 67: 747–755.
Hopkins, D., & McCarthy, A. (2016). Change trends in urban freight delivery: a qualitative inquiry. Geoforum, 74, 158–170
Walton, S. (2015, March). Energy Behaviour of SMEs in New Zealand. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago.
37. Material
culture
PracticesNorms
Financial rationality?
Values?
Knowledge?
Mirosa, M., Lawson, R., & Gnoth, D. (2011) Linking Personal Values to Energy-Efficient Behaviors in the Home. Environment and
Behaviour (27) 1-21
Material
culture
PracticesNorms
What drives change?
Bell, M., G. Carrington, R. Lawson, J. Stephenson (2014). Socio-technical barriers to the use of low-emission timber drying
technology in New Zealand. Energy Policy 67: 747–755.
38. Drivers
Enabling Choosing
Attractors
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Talking with trusted
people
• Independent objective
information about
options
• Information crafted to
householders’
circumstances
• Trusting the quality of
the technology
• Financial support
• Help from trusted
people who’ve
made the change
• Being clear about
what you should do
first/next
• Trusting the
tradesmen/retailer
• Knowing how bad
your house is
compared to others
GENERIC CHANGE FACTORS
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Knowing the change
will improve family
wellbeing
• Feeling it has become
the norm
Home energy change
39. Drivers
Enabling Choosing
Attractors
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Knowing the change
will improve family
wellbeing
• Feeling it has become
the norm
TV
ADVERTISING• Knowing how bad
your house is
compared to others
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Talking with trusted
people
• Independent
objective information
about options
• Information crafted to
householders’
circumstances
• Trusting the quality of
the technology
• Financial support
• Help from trusted
people who’ve
made the change
• Being clear about
what you should do
first/next
• Trusting the
tradesmen/retailer
40. Drivers
Enabling Choosing
Attractors
INSULATION &
HEATING
SUBSIDIES
• Knowing how bad
your house is
compared to others
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Knowing the change
will improve family
wellbeing
• Feeling it has become
the norm
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Talking with trusted
people
• Independent objective
information about
options
• Information crafted to
householders’
circumstances
• Trusting the quality of
the technology
• Financial support
• Help from trusted
people who’ve
made the change
• Being clear about
what you should do
first/next
• Trusting the
tradesmen/retailer
41. Drivers
Enabling Choosing
Attractors
HOME ENERGY
ADVICE• Knowing how bad
your house is
compared to others
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Knowing the change
will improve family
wellbeing
• Feeling it has become
the norm
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Talking with trusted
people
• Independent
objective information
about options
• Information crafted
to householders’
circumstances
• Trusting the quality of
the technology
• Financial support
• Help from trusted
people who’ve
made the change
• Being clear about
what you should
do first/next
• Trusting the
tradesmen/retailer
42. Drivers
Enabling Choosing
Attractors
SOCIAL
NETWORKS• Knowing how bad
your house is
compared to others
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Knowing the change
will improve family
wellbeing
• Feeling it has become
the norm
• Experiencing a house
with the change
• Talking with trusted
people
• Independent objective
information about
options
• Information crafted
to householders’
circumstances
• Trusting the quality of
the technology
• Financial support
• Help from trusted
people who’ve
made the change
• Being clear about
what you should do
first/next
• Trusting the
tradesmen/retailer
43. ALL
INFLUENCES
Stephenson, J. (2012), Energy Cultures and Social Networks: influences on household energy behaviour. Behave: Energy Efficiency and Behaviour
conference, 20-21 September 2012, Helsinki
47. Norms
Material
culture
PracticesAspirations
New aspirations
King, G., Stephenson, J., & Ford, R. (2014). PV in Blueskin: Drivers, barriers and enablers of uptake of household photovoltaic
systems in the Blueskin communities, Otago, New Zealand. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
49. New technologies and infrastructure…
Stephenson, J., Hopkins, D., & Doering, A. (2014). Conceptualizing transport transitions: Energy Cultures as an organizing
framework. WIREs Energy and Environment. doi:10.1002/wene.149
54. Understanding clusters of energy cultures .... and unmet
aspirations for sustainable energy changes
Wooliscroft, B. (2014) National Household Survey of Energy and Transportation. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago
Lawson,R.,Williams,J. (December 2012). Understanding Energy Cultures. Annual conference of the Australia and New Zealand
Academy of Marketing (ANZMAC), University of New South Wales, Adelaide
55. Crafting advice to fit the energy culture
Community events Personalised advice
Scott, M. G., McCarthy, A., Ford, R., Stephenson, J., & Gorrie, S. (2016). Evaluating the impact of energy interventions: home
audits vs. community events. Energy Efficiency, 1-20.
56. Crafting advice to fit the energy culture
Ford, R., Sumavsk, O., Clarke, A., & Thorsnes, P. (2014). Personalized Energy Priorities: A User-Centric Application for Energy
Advice. Presented at the HCI International 2014 Conference.
57. Understand the problem as a system
with feedback loops
57
Rees, D., Stephenson, J., Hopkins, D., & Doering, A. (2016). Exploring stability and change in transport systems: combining Delphi
and system dynamics approaches. Transportation
58. Target policy in problem areas
Barton, B (2014) A warm dry place to live: Energy efficiency and rental accommodation. The Canterbury Law
Review,19, (2014) 1-188.
Eusterfeldhaus, M., & Barton, B. (2012) Energy Efficiency: A Comparative Analysis of the New Zealand Legal
Framework. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law 29:4 431-470
Barton, B. (2012) The Denominator Problem: Energy Demand in a Sustainable Energy Policy. Policy Quarterly 9(1): 3-
8.
Barton, B. (2016, May) Electric vehicles policy announcement: strengths and weaknesses, New Zealand Law Journal.
Barton, B., Schütte, P. (2015) Electric Vehicle Policy: New Zealand in a Comparative Context (Energy Cultures
• Energy efficiency
• Residential tenancies and housing performance
• Low-carbon mobility
60. Material
culture
PracticesNorms
2. How are external influences driving
or preventing change?
Individuals
Households
Firms
“Driver”
influences
(tending to
drive change
anyway)
“Barrier”
influences
(slowing or
preventing
change)
62. EVs
Actions
Expectations
Aspirations
Norms
Material
culture
Practices
EV cost
EV range
Oil price
Awareness
EV charge time
Example: stimulating EV uptake
Drivers Barriers
Ford, R., Stephenson, J., Scott, M., Williams, J., Rees, D., & Wooliscroft, B. (2015). Keen on EVs: Kiwi perspectives on electric
vehicles, and opportunities to stimulate uptake (Working Paper). Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago.
Upfront cost
Limited EV imports
Range anxiety
Limited knowledge &
hands-on experience
Social desirablilty
limited
Low emissions
imports not
encouraged
63. EVs
Actions
Expectations
Aspirations
Norms
Material
culture
Practices
EV cost
EV range
Oil price
Awareness
EV charge time
Example: stimulating EV uptake
Drivers Enablers
Reduce upfront cost
Increase supply chain (fleet
purchases)
Charging infrastructure
Improve knowledge &
hands-on experience
Increase social desirability
(EV privileges; high profile
drivers)
Discourage high-
emissions vehicle
imports
64. EVs
Actions
Expectations
Aspirations
Norms
Material
culture
Practices
EV cost
EV range
Oil price
Awareness
EV charge time
Example: stimulating EV uptake
Drivers Enablers
Reduce upfront cost
Increase supply chain (fleet
purchases)
Charging infrastructure
Improve knowledge &
hands-on experience
Increase social desirability
(EV privileges; high profile
drivers)
Discourage high-
emissions vehicle
imports
71. Energy Cultures as an integrative model
1. Supports interdisciplinary research
2. Accessible to both academics and non-academics
3. Takes into account the broad context of behavioural influences
4. Complementary with relevant theories
5. Supports multiple research methods
6. Applicable at multiple scales
7. Accounts for heterogeneity
8. Generalisable
9. Policy relevant
10. Highlights role of culture change in transition
72. http://energycultures.org/
Our co-funders
Thanks to:
Our main funder
“To devise a suitable framework for the
interdisciplinary study of energy, it is necessary to
develop simple narratives for relevant disciplines
based on big ideas found therein.”
(Yachew 2014, p74)