9 research outputs found

    What is needed for citizen-centered urban energy transitions : Insights on attitudes towards decentralized energy storage

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    This paper aims to fill a research gap in the area of consumer-citizen attitudes to business models for decentralized energy storage, at the level of households and buildings. The study focuses on the interaction of such attitudes and their underlying motivation factors with socio-cultural, contextual factors. Self-determination theory (SDT) is used as a theoretical framework, to connect interpersonal and contextual factors, addressing the question of how contexts influence the motivation to support energy storage. Drawing on SDT, this study examines the role of autarky (independence from the energy system), autonomy (control over energy management) and relatedness (degree of sharing required) in this regard, embedded and interpreted in the socio-cultural local context of two demonstration sites in Sweden and Portugal. A mixed method approach is used. Quantitative survey data provides information on local social and cultural dimensions, followed by stakeholder consultation workshops that elicit participants’ views on different models of decentralized energy storage. The findings raise questions of how to improve autarky and autonomy for prosumers, while keeping the need for time investment low and provide flexibility regarding the required degree of interaction between prosumers. Implications for business models and policy support for citizen-centered sustainable urban energy systems are derived

    Smart Urban Metabolism : Toward a New Understanding of Causalities in Cities

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    For half a century, urban metabolism has been used to provide insights to support transitions to sustainable urban development (SUD). Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) has recently been recognized as a potential technology enabler to advance this transition. This thesis explored the potential for an ICT-enabled urban metabolism framework aimed at improving resource efficiency in urban areas by supporting decision-making processes. Three research objectives were identified: i) investigation of how the urban metabolism framework, aided by ICT, could be utilized to support decision-making processes; ii) development of an ICT platform that manages real-time, high spatial and temporal resolution urban metabolism data and evaluation of its implementation; and iii) identification of the potential for efficiency improvements through the use of resulting high spatial and temporal resolution urban metabolism data. The work to achieve these objectives was based on literature reviews, single-case study research in Stockholm, software engineering research, and big data analytics of resulting data. The evolved framework, Smart Urban Metabolism (SUM), enabled by the emerging context of smart cities, operates at higher temporal (up to real-time), and spatial (up to household/individual) data resolution. A key finding was that the new framework overcomes some of the barriers identified for the conventional urban metabolism framework. The results confirm that there are hidden urban patterns that may be uncovered by analyzing structured big urban data. Some of those patterns may lead to the identification of appropriate intervention measures for SUD.QC 20151120Smart City SR

    How to Evaluate Sustainable Urban District Developments?

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    QC 20181123</p

    How to Evaluate Sustainable Urban District Developments?

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    QC 20181123</p

    Exploring the viability of a local social network for creating persistently engaging energy feedback and improved human well-being

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    Long-term engagement of residents is crucial for demand response management, and thus grid stability in energy systems, but current approaches often fail to maintain or even achieve the necessary changes in consumer behaviour. Thus future customer engagement approaches will have to relate more strongly to customer needs in order to achieve long-term engagement. This study presents an approach based on a central need identified in psychological research, namely the need to belong to a group. A mixed methods approach was used to examine how an energy feedback approach that connects to this need could be designed. First, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Identity Theory, a survey was conducted to examine the influence of e.g. norms held by the local social group of neighbours on energy behaviour. In contrast to previous studies on the influence of social groups on sustainable behaviour, no significant influence was found. However, other findings indicated that this was due to the low level of group identity, leading to the assumption that the need for social belonging was not fulfilled in the survey group. Second, focus group discussions were conducted to test this assumption in more detail. Findings from the focus groups confirm the assumption and reveal detailed insights on residential needs for stronger connections between neighbours. We conclude that a local social network could be a suitable solution to the need for local social belonging and, while also providing a context for energy feedback. Thus, implementing a local social network could lead to both persistently engaging energy feedback and also improve human well-being.QC 20190823InteGri
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