Creating new energy orders: Restrictions and opportunities for energy efficient behaviour

摘要

Technological development and regulations are graduallymaking buildings and appliances more energy efficient buthousehold electricity use remains at relatively high levels anddoes not seem to be decreasing despite improvements in equipment.The point of departure in this paper is the potential formore energy efficient behaviour where household activities areconcerned and how that can be studied. It focuses on publichousing companies that have built passive houses, in whichappliance use is an integral part of maintaining a comfortableindoor climate.The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model called energyorders for analysing household activities in passive housesand identifying restrictions and opportunities for energy efficientbehaviour connected to laundry activities. Qualitativeinterviews have been conducted with public housing residentson their everyday activities and use of appliances.Results show that activities may be realised in very differentways, and they may result in more or less electricity usedepending on the resources households use. However, householdsare affected by various restrictions that prevent themfrom making better choices energy wise. Also, opportunitiesfor taking certain actions vary between households. Whileindividual choices do matter the households are undoubtedlylimited by restrictions shaped by housing companies and otherorganisations. Identifying the obstacles that deter householdsfrom acting more energy efficiently may increase the potentialof the passive house to further reduce household electricity use.Housing companies need to provide more flexible solutions inorder to create better opportunities for households to act inmore energy efficient ways.