IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-03477-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

StreetTalk: exploring energy insecurity in New York City using a novel street intercept interview and social media dissemination method

Author

Listed:
  • Nadav L. Sprague

    (Columbia University)

  • Isabel B. Fan

    (Columbia University)

  • Michelle Dandeneau

    (Columbia University)

  • Jorge Fabian Hernandez Perez

    (Columbia University)

  • Jordyn Birmingham

    (Bowdoin College)

  • Daritza Los Santos

    (University of Wisconsin)

  • Milan I. Riddick

    (Columbia University)

  • Gabriella Y. Meltzer

    (Columbia University)

  • Eva L. Siegel

    (Columbia University)

  • Diana Hernández

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

This study introduces StreetTalk, an original qualitative research methodology inspired by social media influencers, to investigate perceptions and experiences of energy insecurity among New York City (NYC) residents. Briefly, energy insecurity is defined as difficulty meeting household energy needs due to affordability, housing quality, outages and coping strategies. This present study employs dynamic short-form interviews with 34 participants from all five NYC boroughs of diverse economic, and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Thematic analysis of video-recorded interviews revealed six major energy insecurity-related categories: (1) conservation and trade-offs, (2) physical inefficiencies, (3) thermal agency, (4) response to the bill, (5) disappointment and distrust in energy-related authorities, and (6) desire for and barriers to clean energy adoption. These themes provide insight into NYC residents’ experiences with energy insecurity and are consistent with prior research. Beyond new scholarly insights, this study introduces StreetTalk, an innovative qualitative research methodology emphasizing rapid data collection and dissemination through social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube (@hotandcold_nyc). Taking advantage of modern technology and modes of communication, the research team was able to effectively break down barriers to academic research consumption as the videos achieved substantial engagement, with almost 200,000 views and impressions within the first year of launching this novel street-based data collection and social media dissemination campaign.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadav L. Sprague & Isabel B. Fan & Michelle Dandeneau & Jorge Fabian Hernandez Perez & Jordyn Birmingham & Daritza Los Santos & Milan I. Riddick & Gabriella Y. Meltzer & Eva L. Siegel & Diana Hernánde, 2024. "StreetTalk: exploring energy insecurity in New York City using a novel street intercept interview and social media dissemination method," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03477-5
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03477-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-03477-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-03477-5?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. Bhandari, Khagendra P. & Collier, Jennifer M. & Ellingson, Randy J. & Apul, Defne S., 2015. "Energy payback time (EPBT) and energy return on energy invested (EROI) of solar photovoltaic systems: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 133-141.
    2. Göran Goldkuhl, 2012. "Pragmatism vs interpretivism in qualitative information systems research," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 135-146, March.
    3. Numminen, Sini & Ruggiero, Salvatore & Jalas, Mikko, 2022. "Locked in flat tariffs? An analysis of electricity retailers’ dynamic price offerings and attitudes to consumer engagement in demand response," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    4. Shuchen Cong & Destenie Nock & Yueming Lucy Qiu & Bo Xing, 2022. "Unveiling hidden energy poverty using the energy equity gap," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Dominic J. Bednar & Tony G. Reames, 2020. "Recognition of and response to energy poverty in the United States," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 432-439, June.
    6. Brounen, Dirk & Kok, Nils & Quigley, John M., 2013. "Energy literacy, awareness, and conservation behavior of residential households," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 42-50.
    7. Christine C. Ekenga & Cora-Ann McElwain & Nadav Sprague, 2018. "Examining Public Perceptions about Lead in School Drinking Water: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Twitter Response to an Environmental Health Hazard," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, January.
    8. Miller, K.W. & Wilder, L.B. & Stillman, F.A. & Becker, D.M., 1997. "The feasibility of a street-intercept survey method in an African- American community," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(4), pages 655-658.
    9. Richard Van Noorden, 2013. "Open access: The true cost of science publishing," Nature, Nature, vol. 495(7442), pages 426-429, March.
    10. Diana Hernández & Douglas Phillips & Eva Laura Siegel, 2016. "Exploring the Housing and Household Energy Pathways to Stress: A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    11. Healy, John D. & Clinch, J. Peter, 2002. "Fuel poverty, thermal comfort and occupancy: results of a national household-survey in Ireland," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(3-4), pages 329-343, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Jones, Andrew & Nock, Destenie & Samaras, Constantine & Qiu, Yueming (Lucy) & Xing, Bo, 2023. "Climate change impacts on future residential electricity consumption and energy burden: A case study in Phoenix, Arizona," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    2. Kwon, Minji & Cong, Shuchen & Nock, Destenie & Huang, Luling & Qiu, Yueming (Lucy) & Xing, Bo, 2023. "Forgone summertime comfort as a function of avoided electricity use," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    3. Kerby, Jessica & Hardy, Trevor & Twitchell, Jeremy & O’Neil, Rebecca & Tarekegne, Bethel, 2024. "A targeted approach to energy burden reduction measures: Comparing the effects of energy storage, rooftop solar, weatherization, and energy efficiency upgrades," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    4. Ku, Arthur Lin & Qiu, Yueming (Lucy) & Lou, Jiehong & Nock, Destenie & Xing, Bo, 2022. "Changes in hourly electricity consumption under COVID mandates: A glance to future hourly residential power consumption pattern with remote work in Arizona," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    5. Huang, Luling & Nock, Destenie, 2024. "Estimating the income-related inequality aversion to energy limiting behavior in the United States," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    6. Huang, Luling & Nock, Destenie & Cong, Shuchen & Qiu, Yueming (Lucy), 2023. "Inequalities across cooling and heating in households: Energy equity gaps," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    7. Elmallah, Salma & Crespo Montañés, Cristina & Callaway, Duncan, 2024. "Who heats and cools? Access to residential heating and cooling in Northern California and implications for energy transitions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    8. Spandagos, Constantine & Tovar Reaños, Miguel Angel & Lynch, Muireann Á., 2023. "Energy poverty prediction and effective targeting for just transitions with machine learning," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    9. Ioanna Kyprianou & Despina Serghides & Harriet Thomson & Salvatore Carlucci, 2023. "Learning from the Past: The Impacts of Economic Crises on Energy Poverty Mortality and Rural Vulnerability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-13, July.
    10. Stephan Puehringer & Johanna Rath & Teresa Griesebner, 2021. "The political economy of academic publishing: On the commodification of a public good," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, June.
    11. Juana Isabel Méndez & Adán Medina & Pedro Ponce & Therese Peffer & Alan Meier & Arturo Molina, 2022. "Evolving Gamified Smart Communities in Mexico to Save Energy in Communities through Intelligent Interfaces," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-29, July.
    12. Charles Neumeyer & Robert Goldston, 2016. "Dynamic EROI Assessment of the IPCC 21st Century Electricity Production Scenario," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-15, April.
    13. J. A. Garcia & Rosa Rodriguez-Sánchez & J. Fdez-Valdivia, 2021. "The interplay between the reviewer’s incentives and the journal’s quality standard," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 3041-3061, April.
    14. Nojedehi, Pedram & Gunay, Burak & O'Brien, William & Papineau, Maya & Azar, Elie & Schweiker, Marcel & Ulukavak Harputlugil, Gülsu & Ganiç Saglam, Nese, 2024. "Examining disparities in energy poverty and indoor environmental quality satisfaction among Canadian households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    15. Stefano Ceolotto & Eleanor Denny, 2021. "Putting a new 'spin' on energy labels: measuring the impact of reframing energy efficiency on tumble dryer choices in a multi-country experiment," Trinity Economics Papers tep1521, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
    16. Aleksander Jakimowicz, 2022. "The Future of the Energy Sector and the Global Economy: Prosumer Capitalism and What Comes Next," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Sanzana Tabassum & Tanvin Rahman & Ashraf Ul Islam & Sumayya Rahman & Debopriya Roy Dipta & Shidhartho Roy & Naeem Mohammad & Nafiu Nawar & Eklas Hossain, 2021. "Solar Energy in the United States: Development, Challenges and Future Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-65, December.
    18. Critchley, Roger & Gilbertson, Jan & Grimsley, Michael & Green, Geoff, 2007. "Living in cold homes after heating improvements: Evidence from Warm-Front, England's Home Energy Efficiency Scheme," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 147-158, February.
    19. Caitlin Robinson & Stefan Bouzarovski & Sarah Lindley, 2018. "Underrepresenting neighbourhood vulnerabilities? The measurement of fuel poverty in England," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 50(5), pages 1109-1127, August.
    20. Ye, Yuxiang & Koch, Steven F., 2021. "Measuring energy poverty in South Africa based on household required energy consumption," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03477-5. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    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.