social change, climate change and social reproduction, dr catherine butler, cardiff university, uk
DESCRIPTION
'Social Change, Climate Change and Social Reproduction: Exploring energy demand reduction through a biographical lens', Dr Catherine Butler, Cardiff University, UKTRANSCRIPT
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