Learning about users and developing co-design capabilities for energy saving on the local level

Learning about users and developing co-design capabilities for energy saving on the local level

Heiskanen, E.
Feenstra, C.F.J.
Johnson, M.
Vadovics, E.

2010-10-27

European energy policy aims to shift the European energy market toward an increased focus on energy services based on end-user needs. This requires a close understanding of the role of end-users and their needs and practices. Our paper is based on a EU FP7 project called CHANGING BEHAVIOUR and focuses on interaction between energy users and managers of projects to change energy use. It draws on two sets of data: a meta-analysis of previous more and less successful projects to change energy use, and a set of ongoing pilot projects in different parts of Europe. We present some of our insights gained in trying to find improved, yet practical, ways for energy efficiency practitioners to interact with energy endusers. Large projects and programmes can build on extensive, dedicated research on the needs and practices of the target group. Small, local projects rarely have this possibility, but they have other advantages. We identified a number of ways in which small local projects learned about and interacted with users, such as close face-to-face contacts, membership in the user community, user participation, ‘mini-pilots’, as well as drawing on existing experience in their organizations and networks. Our presentation discusses ways of building user knowledge, co-design capabilities and user engagement into the design of projects and programmes to change energy use on the basis of previous experiences and our ongoing pilot projects.

co-design
energy saving
energy efficiency
local, energy end-users

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:2888ee23-520c-48c4-8d69-239dcc1046a9

Conference proceedings

conference paper

(c) 2010 Heiskanen, E.; Feenstra, C.F.J.; Johnson, M.; Vadovics, E.