Social Change, Climate Change and Social Reproduction: Exploring energy demand

reduction through a biographical lens

Dr Catherine Butler Cardiff University, UK

Prof. Karen Henwood Dr Karen Parkhill Dr Fiona Shirani Prof. Nick Pidgeon

Energy Biographies Research Objectives

1. Develop understanding of energy use by investigating and comparing people's different ‘energy biographies’ across a range of social settings  2. Examine how existing demand reduction interventions

interact with people's personal biographies and histories.  3. Develop improved understanding of how different

community types can support reductions in energy consumption

…We will also be exploring the usefulness of

innovative (narrative, longitudinal and visual) research methods for helping people reflect on the ways they use energy

Case Site Locations

Royal Free Hospital, London

Peterston and Ely Caerau, Cardiff

Tir Y Gafel Eco-village, Pembrokeshire

Methods

Theory

Social Reproduction and Social ChangeSocial reproduction as way of thinking about change

(Bourdieu 1998)

Social continuity through the gradual development of socially reproduced ways of doing (e.g. development of idea of cleanliness

and change from bathing weekly to showering daily).

Social change occurs in challenges that form in relation to socially reproduced ways of doing (e.g. breaking down of the idea of

staying married, separation and divorce)

Mary – Cardiff

“…I would have liked to have lived in the City… I had never lived in a city, so I was quite keen to try… but Roger very much didn't

want to live in the City and he was right… we made some good friends here and I'm quite involved in some of the activities, it

was a good decision.”

“We had previously lived in the Midlands…and had decided that we were both ready to job move and Roger was head-hunted…

Well we needed to be close enough to Roger’s place of work and I got a job…”

Social Reproduction and ContinuityMaking-up Mobilities – “Then”…

Social Reproduction and Continuity

“Roger died in 2005 and I stopped work two years ago now… because we've got lots of friends here and because it was the house

that we sort of created together I suppose, I would find it difficult to move…. But eventually… the house is big and the garden is big… My brother and his wife live in the US, so it's great when they come

over…”

Mary – Cardiff

“That is my one, yeah, if you asked me what was the one thing where my preference to be environmentally friendly goes out of the window

then it is travel for a number of reasons. My Mum-in-Law is ninety and lives in Essex. My Mum is eighty three and lives in Durham and both of

them need regular visits so I do do a lot of miles and my horse is not close, so I also do a fair amount of miles more frequently to him”

Making-up Mobilities –“Now” & “Next”…

Mobilities Beyond Modes of Travel…

Social Reproduction and Change

“I had been weighing up the possibility of solar panels for some time and looking at costs and looking at different firms…

Mary – Cardiff

Making Changes at Home – “Then”…

I had been interested but the feed-in tariff was really the bit that said, and particularly at the moment, when it was the March 31st deadline and

interest rates on savings were so low so it really, the two things combined and it just looked a decider to say, 'Do it now, don't hang around and put the

decision off and look for more information'

…in terms of decision-making, I tend to like to talk to people who have had something done or have had a personal recommendation of a firm or a supplier or an organisation. So once Peterston Connect had done that, there were

people who had had the work done then it just made it very easy to go ahead then and make the decision and take the action rather than just think, 'Oh

well, maybe I will just get a bit more information”.

Social Reproduction and Change

“…I think what the solar panels have done has made me think about when I do washing, when I should have put gadgets on in a way that I

probably hadn't. Previously I might well have put the washing machine on in the evening because I was around and I could put things in and out, now I put it on

during the day, and to a certain extent thinking about sort of sequencing things so if the washing machine is on then maybe wait to do

something else or leave that until another day, so sequencing things rather than thinking, 'Oh I'll blitz everything at once”.

Mary – Cardiff

Making Changes at Home – “Now” & “Next”…

Concluding Thoughts…

• Biography as a lens on the social that can help us to: ▫ Better understand energy use and what we are

seeking to change▫ Get insights into ‘interventions’ – both new and

already existing▫ Understand connections between communities

and energy demand reduction

Thank you

Dr Catherine Butler Cardiff University

www.energybiographies.org