A Research Agenda to Better Understand the Human Dimensions of Energy Transitions

Steg, Linda; Sovacool, Benjamin K.; Bonaiuto, Marino; Diekmann, Andreas; Filippini, Massimo; Hindriks, Frank; Bergstad, Cecilia Jakobsson; Matthies, Ellen; Matti, Simon; Mulder, Machiel; Nilsson, Andréas; Pahl, S; Roggenkamp, Martha; Schuitema, Geertje; Stern, Paul C.; Tavoni, Massimo; Thøgersen, John; Woerdman, Edwin

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.672776

Cited by 36 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…This is where social science research has an important role to play by shedding light on relevant actors and identifying factors that influence their support for energy policies and low carbon technologies. Findings from this line of research can inform measures to promote changes in energy systems (Perlaviciute et al, 2021;Steg et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mapping perceptions of energy transition pathways: Ascribed motives and effectiveness

et al. 2022

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This study examines how people perceive possible pathways of a societal transition towards less carbon intensive means of energy production and use. Data were collected with questionnaires among samples of university students in Norway (N = 106) and Germany (N = 142). Participants selected from a set of 15 motives those which they considered to be strongly associated with each of 25 pathways, including examples such as public transportation and nuclear power. Participants also rated the effectiveness of each single pathway, that is, their perceived impact on climate change. Results indicate that the various pathways were associated with specific motives; for example, individual actions such as taking public transportation were closely associated with a self-restraint motive, pathways such as nuclear power and market strategies such as carbon offsets were closely associated with motives supporting free market and progress, and technological solutions such as solar panels and hydro power were associated with the motive for sufficient energy supply. The German and the Norwegian sample did not differ markedly in which pathways were associated with which motives; nor did effectiveness ratings for pathways differ between samples. Solar panels, wind farms, and hydropower were on average regarded as having a mitigating impact on climate change, whereas nuclear power was on average considered to have no mitigating impact. The findings are discussed in the context of public engagement with several of the suggested pathways, noting differences in perceptual patterns across samples.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mapping perceptions of energy transition pathways: Ascribed motives and effectiveness

et al. 2022

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“…Thus, to overcome the energy and climate crises, we need a new energy lifestyle, not just technical solutions to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Therefore, technical solutions (e.g., reducing CO 2 emissions per unit of energy produced, increasing energy efficiency) are as important as changing human energy behavior (Rosenbloom 2017;Steg et al 2021). However, unlike technical solutions, it is more difficult to change energy behavior as it comprises a broad variety of patterns related to the consumption or generation of energy.…”

Section: Energy Behavior and Its Spilloversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Prosumers’ Spillovers and the Policy Effect: Comparing Two Alpine Valleys in Styria and South Tyrol

Braito

2022

Alpine Landgesellschaften Zwischen Urbanisierung Und Globalisierung

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The article identifies and compares spillover effects of prosumers (electricity producers and consumers) in different incentive regimes. Prosumers are expected to reduce their energy consumption and increase their environmentally friendly behavior. Such spillover effects are promising for sustainability initiatives – however, researchers have not demonstrated these behavioral effects consistently. I hypothesize that these inconsistent results are related to how households were induced to become prosumers in the first place. To test this hypothesis, prosumers and non-prosumers of different incentive regimes are compared. Statistics show that monetary incentives can lead to adverse spillover effects and that collective prosumers generate the strongest positive spillovers. Results encourage sustainability initiatives to offset financial benefits to promote sustainable lifestyles.

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“…People can contribute to a sustainable energy transition by accepting and adopting sustainable energy technologies, and using these in a sustainable way (Gram-Hanssen, 2011). Moreover, they can match their energy demand to the available (renewable) energy supply, to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the energy system (Steg et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When You Choose but Not Lose: Decreasing People’s Desire for Options on Technological Appliances

2022

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The appliances people adopt, and the way they use them, can critically influence the sustainable energy transition. People are often attracted to appliances with many setting options that offer them more control. Yet, operating many setting options can have negative consequences for users (e.g., user frustration) and the management of sustainable energy systems (e.g., unpredictable consumption increasing complexity and uncertainty of systems), which may obstruct sustainability goals. We aim to study how to reduce the preference for many setting options without reducing the perceived attractiveness of the appliance. In line with our theorizing we found that people opt for appliances with fewer setting options when they are asked to reflect on which options they would like to have from a list of possible setting options, while being equally satisfied with the appliance. In addition, we show that this is especially the case when asking people to select which setting options they would like an appliance to have, as this will feel like they gain options, rather than asking them which options they are willing to give up as this feels like losing options that their appliance could have. Our findings offer relatively easy and cost-efficient ways to decrease people’s desire for many setting options on appliances, decreasing stress on the user and the energy system, while ensuring satisfaction with and acceptance of the appliance.

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A Research Agenda to Better Understand the Human Dimensions of Energy Transitions

Cited by 36 publications

References 100 publications

Mapping perceptions of energy transition pathways: Ascribed motives and effectiveness

Mapping perceptions of energy transition pathways: Ascribed motives and effectiveness

Energy Prosumers’ Spillovers and the Policy Effect: Comparing Two Alpine Valleys in Styria and South Tyrol

When You Choose but Not Lose: Decreasing People’s Desire for Options on Technological Appliances

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