IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v167y2022ics0301421522002804.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The role of culture in advancing sustainable energy policy and practice

Author

Listed:
  • Goggins, Gary
  • Rau, Henrike
  • Moran, Paul
  • Fahy, Frances
  • Goggins, Jamie

Abstract

This paper offers a culturally sensitive analysis of measures to improve the energy performance of households. Comparing and combining insights from two recent sustainable energy initiatives in Ireland, we show how integrated approaches that work with participants’ everyday practices and their links with people and place can yield substantial and sustained reductions in household energy use. Recognizing the centrality of culturally rooted meanings related to domestic energy use and the services it provides, our analysis challenges approaches to energy saving that overemphasize technology use and individual-level behavior change. Instead, it treats domestic energy use as an inherently social phenomenon that reflects place-specific cultural practices and material conditions. The paper also provides important lessons for upscaling and diffusion of good practice that recognize the centrality of formal and informal community networks and related aspects of trust in local social relations. Involving local advocates with strong social awareness and (inter-)cultural competences can increase engagement in community-based initiatives and deliver more sustainable results. Overall, the paper addresses a major energy policy challenge that has generated intense public debate, namely how to design and implement sustainable energy initiatives that meet the needs of participants and deliver lasting reductions in domestic energy use.

Suggested Citation

  • Goggins, Gary & Rau, Henrike & Moran, Paul & Fahy, Frances & Goggins, Jamie, 2022. "The role of culture in advancing sustainable energy policy and practice," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:167:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522002804
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421522002804
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113055?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Collins, Matthew & Curtis, John, 2017. "An examination of the abandonment of applications for energy efficiency retrofit grants in Ireland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 260-270.
    2. Klaniecki, Kathleen & Duse, Ioana Alexandra & Lutz, Lotte M. & Leventon, Julia & Abson, David J., 2020. "Applying the energy cultures framework to understand energy systems in the context of rural sustainability transformation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Jensen, Charlotte Louise & Goggins, Gary & Røpke, Inge & Fahy, Frances, 2019. "Achieving sustainability transitions in residential energy use across Europe: The importance of problem framings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Willand, Nicola & Horne, Ralph, 2018. "“They are grinding us into the ground” – The lived experience of (in)energy justice amongst low-income older households," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 61-70.
    5. Stephenson, Janet & Barton, Barry & Carrington, Gerry & Gnoth, Daniel & Lawson, Rob & Thorsnes, Paul, 2010. "Energy cultures: A framework for understanding energy behaviours," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 6120-6129, October.
    6. Orlaith McGinley & Paul Moran & Jamie Goggins, 2022. "An Assessment of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of Energy Efficient Retrofits to Existing Residential Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-26, January.
    7. Ahern, Ciara & Griffiths, Philip & O'Flaherty, Micheál, 2013. "State of the Irish housing stock—Modelling the heat losses of Ireland's existing detached rural housing stock & estimating the benefit of thermal retrofit measures on this stock," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 139-151.
    8. Šćepanović, Sanja & Warnier, Martijn & Nurminen, Jukka K., 2017. "The role of context in residential energy interventions: A meta review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1146-1168.
    9. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve, 2020. "The cultural barriers to a low-carbon future: A review of six mobility and energy transitions across 28 countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    10. Labanca, Nicola & Bertoldi, Paolo, 2018. "Beyond energy efficiency and individual behaviours: policy insights from social practice theories," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 494-502.
    11. Thomas Wiedmann & Manfred Lenzen & Lorenz T. Keyßer & Julia K. Steinberger, 2020. "Scientists’ warning on affluence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    12. Frederiks, Elisha R. & Stenner, Karen & Hobman, Elizabeth V., 2015. "Household energy use: Applying behavioural economics to understand consumer decision-making and behaviour," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1385-1394.
    13. Dagher, Leila & Harajli, Hassan, 2015. "Willingness to pay for green power in an unreliable electricity sector: Part 1. The case of the Lebanese residential sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1634-1642.
    14. Claudia Aravena & Andrés Riquelme & Eleanor Denny, 2016. "Money, Comfort or Environment? Priorities and Determinants of Energy Efficiency Investments in Irish Households," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 159-186, June.
    15. Walker, Gordon & Devine-Wright, Patrick & Hunter, Sue & High, Helen & Evans, Bob, 2010. "Trust and community: Exploring the meanings, contexts and dynamics of community renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 2655-2663, June.
    16. Spangenberg, Joachim H. & Lorek, Sylvia, 2019. "Sufficiency and consumer behaviour: From theory to policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1070-1079.
    17. Simcock, Neil & MacGregor, Sherilyn & Catney, Philip & Dobson, Andrew & Ormerod, Mark & Robinson, Zoe & Ross, Simon & Royston, Sarah & Marie Hall, Sarah, 2014. "Factors influencing perceptions of domestic energy information: Content, source and process," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 455-464.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zheng, Linyi, 2023. "Impact of off-farm employment on cooking fuel choices: Implications for rural-urban transformation in advancing sustainable energy transformation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gordon, Joel A. & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Nabavi, Seyed Ali, 2022. "Beyond the triangle of renewable energy acceptance: The five dimensions of domestic hydrogen acceptance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    2. Bedggood, Rowan & Russell-Bennett, Rebekah & McAndrew, Ryan & Glavas, Charmaine & Dulleck, Uwe, 2023. "Challenging the social-power paradigm: Moving beyond consumer empowerment to an energy ecosystem of shared value," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Antonopoulos, Chrissi A. & Fuentes, Tracy L. & McCord, Kieren H. & Rackley, Adrienne L.S. & Biswas, Saurabh, 2024. "Regional assessment of household energy decision-making and technology adoption in the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    4. Collins, Matthew & Dempsey, Seraphim & Curtis, John, 2017. "Financial incentives for residential energy efficiency investments in Ireland: Should the status quo be maintained?," Papers WP562, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    5. Zell-Ziegler, Carina & Thema, Johannes & Best, Benjamin & Wiese, Frauke & Lage, Jonas & Schmidt, Annika & Toulouse, Edouard & Stagl, Sigrid, 2021. "Enough? The role of sufficiency in European energy and climate plans," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    6. Gordon, Joel A. & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Nabavi, Seyed Ali, 2022. "Homes of the future: Unpacking public perceptions to power the domestic hydrogen transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    7. Fouladvand, Javanshir & Aranguren Rojas, Maria & Hoppe, Thomas & Ghorbani, Amineh, 2022. "Simulating thermal energy community formation: Institutional enablers outplaying technological choice," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    8. Cheng, Xiu & Wu, Fan & Li, Wenbo & Yang, Jiameng & Long, Ruyin, 2024. "What maintains low-carbon consumption behaviors: Evidence from China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    9. Chen, Hong & Gangopadhyay, Partha & Singh, Baljeet & Shankar, Sriram, 2022. "Measuring preferences for energy efficiency in ACI and EU nations and uncovering their impacts on energy conservation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    10. Gordon, Joel A. & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Nabavi, Seyed Ali, 2023. "Price promises, trust deficits and energy justice: Public perceptions of hydrogen homes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    11. G. Vries & M. Rietkerk & R. Kooger, 2020. "The Hassle Factor as a Psychological Barrier to a Green Home," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 345-352, June.
    12. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve, 2020. "The cultural barriers to a low-carbon future: A review of six mobility and energy transitions across 28 countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    13. Spandagos, Constantine & Yarime, Masaru & Baark, Erik & Ng, Tze Ling, 2020. "“Triple Target” policy framework to influence household energy behavior: Satisfy, strengthen, include," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    14. Collins, Matthew & Curtis, John, 2016. "Willingness-to-Pay and Free-Riding in a National Energy Efficiency Retrofit Grant Scheme: A Revealed Preference Approach," Papers WP551, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    15. Matthew Collins & Seraphim Dempsey & John Curtis, 2018. "Householder Preferences for the Design of an Energy Efficiency Retrofit Subsidy in Ireland," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 49(2), pages 145-172.
    16. Cem Keskin & M. Pınar Mengüç, 2018. "On Occupant Behavior and Innovation Studies Towards High Performance Buildings: A Transdisciplinary Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-33, October.
    17. Matthew Collins & John Curtis, 2017. "Value for money in energy efficiency retrofits in Ireland: grant provider and grant recipients," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(51), pages 5245-5267, November.
    18. Li, Jiajia & Zhang, Jian & Zhang, Dayong & Ji, Qiang, 2019. "Does gender inequality affect household green consumption behaviour in China?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    19. Cristinel Petrisor Constantin & Ioana Bianca Chitu & Evelina Gradinaru & Lavinia Dovleac & Gabriel Bratucu, 2019. "Approaching the Bioeconomy in Terms of Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Households in Romania," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(50), pages 1-90, February.
    20. Tampakis, Stilianos & Arabatzis, Garyfallos & Tsantopoulos, Georgios & Rerras, Ioannis, 2017. "Citizens’ views on electricity use, savings and production from renewable energy sources: A case study from a Greek island," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 39-49.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:167:y:2022:i:c:s0301421522002804. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.