Lifestyle changes and energy use
During the 90'es the notion of lifestyle has become widely used within debates about energy use and environmental matters as well as in research in this field. The idea is to identify elements in the modern way of life that causes high energy consumption and environmental problems. The hope is by identifying the causes it will be possible to alter them in a more sustainable direction. The crucial point is the understanding of the notion lifestyle.
The project adresses the question how changes in lifestyle in respect to lower energy use can be achieved. The project is based on the results of a ph.d. thesis which analysed the relationship between energy use and lifestyle. The conclusions were that energy use is related to deep social mechanisms and a symbolic competition between different groups in society on consumption and pratices, which leads to energy use. At the same time energy use is salient and often a consequence of non consciencious actions. Energy savings are not obtained by rational information. In stead the project will focus on two different kinds of activities aimed at gaining focus on energy use in households and on work places. Can activities in this kind of communities start a process that puts a common, socially shared focus on how every day desicions and every day activities lead to energy use. Is it possible to put focus on how lifestyles influence energy use and does this raise questions about changing lifestyle. The two activities that will be analysed in a project in a little town, held in the beginning of the 90'es, and on going activities in on work places in Storstrøms Amt to make the energy use more efficient. The analyses will be done partly by interviewing participants from the two projects
The project is bases on an understanding of lifestyle as very deep structures that are difficult to change. The question then is how are changes possible. In order to give some answers to that the project has analysed an energy saving project that was held 1990-92 in a smaller community. An energy watch club was formed with 60-40 families participating. The families registered and reported their monthly energy use to the club and received a feed-back about their effort in comparison with the other participants. Information, motivation and transfer of knowledge about energy technologies were essential. The project had very good result while running but the interesting question is whether the intense information and motivation activities led to long lasting reductions in energy use among the participant and in one can characterise these as lifestyle changes. 15 families were contacted and the development in their energy use has been analysed. The result is that very few of the families had very low energy uses before, during and after the project. Some families achieved very good results during the project and have been able to continue the effort. But the majority is back on the same level as before the project or even higher. In other words, the analyse shows that despite a massive support it is very difficult to continue the effort. The theory of social ritual are used to explain the short time good results and the decline in the long run. By participating in a group, meeting with the others a feeling of commitment and belonging to the same idea was created. The result was a feeling of emotional strength with enabled the participants to do what they could never have achieved on their own. By the end of the project the community ceased, and the families were on their own again. Other explanations that are analysed are the dynamics in consumption that pull towards higher energy use despite technological improvement in appliances etc. It is also discussed what lifestyle changes should imply; is it just the direct energy use or also the indirect, embodied the goods etc. Finally the project discusses to what extend different groups are willing to make lifestyle changes
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Contact
Linnesgade 22
DK-1361 København K, Denmark
Gundelach, Peter (professor), 35323280, Susanne.Kuehn@Sociology.ku.dk
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