Creating an interdisciplinary energy lexicon: Working with terminology differences in support of better energy policy

Language shapes the practices and processes of energy research and policy. It is thus challenging that each disciplinary community has its own taken-for-granted terminology, which can be difficult for ‘outsiders’ to understand. Much of the interdisciplinary literature has focused on the challenges experienced in relation to this, with very little done on solutions. Moreover, most attempts to provide an overview of such (energy-related) definitions have still been undertaken within disciplinary silos and have tended to be narrow in scope (e.g. glossaries for one particular research/policy community), and have thereby failed to provide an adequate platform for cross-cutting policy debate and interdisciplinary exchange. This paper therefore aims to investigate how an interdisciplinary lexicon might be practically produced for energy researchers across the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), as part of providing a basis for interdisciplinary collaboration and a transparent platform for subsequent policy discussions. Specifically, the core of this paper (1) identifies a set of guiding principles that may assist in the creation of a lexicon and (2) proposes a method for creating an energy-SSH lexicon. All this is discussed in the context of a new EU Platform (SHAPE-ENERGY: Social sciences & Humanities for Advancing Policy in European ENERGY), which is following this proposed method in creating its own interdisciplinary energy lexicon. We will conclude by reflecting on how a lexicon such as the one that we propose – e.g. one that is reflexive, participatory, solutions-focussed, noted as being the start (not the end) of dialogue, and accounts for difference, etc. – could be used more broadly in other interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder contexts

Using the Homes Energy Efficiency Database as a research resource for residential insulation improvements

In devising viable energy efficiency policies that can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of existing dwellings (e.g. UK׳s Green Deal), data are required on current insulation levels and its influences. One such data source is the seldom used UK Energy Saving Trust׳s Homes Energy Efficiency Database (HEED), which this paper investigates using Norfolk UK local authorities as a case study. The HEED׳s reactive and longitudinal data collection strategies contribute to underlying biases, which is the likely reasoning for its differences with the English Housing Survey and UK 2001 Census. These differences had a cascading effect in that they manifested themselves in the indicative financial and carbon assessments undertaken. Similarly, sampling concerns also implicated correlations surrounding influences of current dwelling insulation levels. Providing one is transparent about potential biases and data concerns, the HEED can play a substantial role in guiding policy decisions and understanding dwelling stock characteristics (e.g. what makes dwellings ‘Hard to Treat׳). In particular, its vast (national) geographic coverage yet high resolution enables local context to be explored: a factor that this study shows to significantly shape insulation levels

Sociology of Interdisciplinarity

This Open Access book builds upon Science and Technology Studies (STS) and provides a detailed examination of how large-scale energy research projects have been conceived, and with what consequences for those involved in interdisciplinary research, which has been advocated as the zenith of research practice for many years, quite often in direct response to questions that cannot be answered (or even preliminarily investigated) by disciplines working separately. It produces fresh insights into the lived experiences and actual contents of interdisciplinarity, rather than simply commentating on how it is being explicitly advocated. We present empirical studies on large-scale energy research projects from the United Kingdom, Norway, and Finland. The book presents a new framework, the Sociology of Interdisciplinarity, which unpacks interdisciplinary research in practice. This book will be of interest to all those interested in well-functioning interdisciplinary research systems and the dynamics of doing interdisciplinarity, including real ground-level experiences and institutional interdependencies

Sociology of Interdisciplinarity

This Open Access book builds upon Science and Technology Studies (STS) and provides a detailed examination of how large-scale energy research projects have been conceived, and with what consequences for those involved in interdisciplinary research, which has been advocated as the zenith of research practice for many years, quite often in direct response to questions that cannot be answered (or even preliminarily investigated) by disciplines working separately. It produces fresh insights into the lived experiences and actual contents of interdisciplinarity, rather than simply commentating on how it is being explicitly advocated. We present empirical studies on large-scale energy research projects from the United Kingdom, Norway, and Finland. The book presents a new framework, the Sociology of Interdisciplinarity, which unpacks interdisciplinary research in practice. This book will be of interest to all those interested in well-functioning interdisciplinary research systems and the dynamics of doing interdisciplinarity, including real ground-level experiences and institutional interdependencies

The SHAPE ENERGY Lexicon - interpreting energy-related social sciences and humanities terminology

Words help shape energy debates and thereby actively contribute to the direction of energy research and energy policy. Yet, words are used very differently across, and also within, different energy research communities, as well as different sectors (business, policy, media, etc.). This SHAPE ENERGY Lexicon aims to explore and illustrate such differences, through comparing and contrasting definitions for 20 energyrelated keywords and phrases, primarily drawn from the Social Sciences and Humanities. The range of definitions found within this SHAPE ENERGY Lexicon were sourced from an interdisciplinary group of leading European energy scholars that we brought together in a workshop in Cambridge (UK) on 24 February 2017

Energy Transitions in Nigeria: The Evolution of Energy Infrastructure Provision (1800–2015)

The provision of energy infrastructure is essential for economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Understanding the multiple functions and services it provides us requires firstly a deeper understanding of the factors that influence energy infrastructure itself. This paper focusses on the factors that influence the evolution of energy infrastructure in Nigeria. By studying different eras of energy use according to the technologies that were being implemented, resources that were available, and the political practice of the time it is possible to better frame the drivers of energy infrastructure. The paper explores the transitions of how Nigerians managed to obtain the vast majority of energy from food calories and traditional biomass, to the broad portfolio of energy sources that is in use today

The SHAPE ENERGY academic workshop - current landscapes and future directions for European energy research

This deliberative academic workshop brought together high profile scholars to discuss the foundations of a European strategic research agenda for SSH in the energy field. Together with other extensive scoping activities, findings from this workshop will directly shape the organisation of upcoming SHAPE ENERGY activities and project outputs. It was organised within the first month of the project (February 2017) and has already led to some of the earliest project outputs, including a report feeding into the framing of calls within the next Horizon 2020 energy work programme and the SHAPE ENERGY Lexicon

Influences on energy supply infrastructure: A comparison of different theoretical perspectives

Changes to the energy supply infrastructure are a vital component of climate change mitigation strategies. But what exactly underlies changes to energy supply infrastructure? This paper, through exploration and critical analysis of relevant literature, explores the various underpinning influences on energy infrastructure supply using a comparison of different theoretical perspectives. These influences were explored with specific emphasis on techno-economics, social psychology, socio-technical transitions, social practices and institutional dimensions to energy supply. The aim was to have a better understanding of the (direct and indirect) role of politics and the political system in influencing energy supply infrastructure decisions through the various theoretical lenses. The study revealed that techno-economics uses financial instruments and market information as intervention tools. Its effectiveness is measured by social welfare and cost effectiveness. Social psychology uses a combination of information, incentives and innovative informative instruments as its intervention tools. Its effectiveness is measured by behavioural change. Institutions use regulatory instruments as its intervention tool. Its effectiveness is measured by regulatory compliance. Social practices look at change in broader social systems. Its effectiveness is measured by social change. Socio-technical transitions focus on determining social movements and social innovations. Its effectiveness is measured by legitimacy and social learning

The SHAPE ENERGY Summer School - interdisciplinary debates with PhD researchers

The European Union (EU) funded Horizon 2020 ‘Social sciences and Humanities for Advancing Policy in European ENERGY’ (SHAPE ENERGY) project organised an international summer school for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) working within energy-social sciences and humanities (energy-SSH). This multidisciplinary summer school – entitled ‘Advancing Energy Policy Summer School’ – focused on how energy-SSH research can contribute to tackling the many energy-related challenges in Europe. Key energy topics were discussed with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity and on the translation of academic research into policy and practice, including: • Global energy dilemmas; • Energy transition; • Public engagement and energy citizenship; • Consumption and social practices; • Energy poverty. Advanced researchers and practitioners involved in leading European energy projects were presenting their expertise and the role of energy-SSH research for policy and practice while the summer school was also an opportunity to meet and collaborate with other ESRs from a range of disciplines. Analysing the outputs of the summer school allowed us to draw attention to four recommendations, which could serve as points of reflection during the organisation of any future ESR and/or interdisciplinary SHAPE ENERGY activities: • Make more explicit/visible the ‘implicits’ of the various disciplines and, while proposing a workshop, consider more carefully the time needed by each discipline to produce a ‘rigorous’ outcome/output. • Pay attention to the fact that mainstream economic thinking innervates all disciplines. This element should be taken into greater consideration in prospective research as it influences the way the future is envisioned and closes alternative paths that could have been taken. • Better consider the cultural background of the participants when asking them to work together, or at least make more explicit not only the rules of the exercise but also the cultural implicit behind it. • Be sensitive to the gender and age of the participants, as these obviously play a role in how individuals express and put themselves forward. As it is crucial to devote time and resources, and to employ experts when implementing gender perspectives in research programmes and policy-making; more attention should be paid to this point as well as to how older researchers might influence the youngest

Transport sector decarbonisation - a social sciences and humanities annotated bibliography

The challenge: * By 2014, transport had overtaken power companies as the sector with the highest carbon emissions across the European Union (EU). * From 1990 to 2014, EU road transport emissions rose by 17% and aviation emissions by 82%. Road transport accounted for 70% of EU transport emissions in 2014. Aim: * European energy policy has so far mainly relied on research from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Energy-related Social Sciences and Humanities (energy-SSH) have been significantly underrepresented. This bibliography provides a broad overview of SSH perspectives on transport decarbonisation. It is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather aimed at presenting initial insights into the variety of questions posed, areas explored, and methods used by SSH scholars and demonstrating their relevance for EU energy policy. Coverage: * This bibliography presents publications from History, Human Geography, Sociology, Urban Planning, Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology, Theology, Economics, Philosophy and Ethics, Criminology, as well as intersectional disciplines such as Transport, Tourism, and Gender studies. * In order to better represent SSH debates, some transport publications which were of wider relevance to decarbonisation (but did not solely focus on it) were included. Key findings: * Much research concerns technological fixes and individual consumer choices. Consumer research tends to focus on attitudes towards technologies or policies, what determines transport mode preference, or what might prompt mode shift. There is less research on institutional and systemic issues, as well as the role of corporations. * Since the 1990s, the so-called ‘Mobilities turn’ has become dominant, associated with Miriam Sheller, John Urry, Tim Cresswell and Marc Augé. This paradigm emphasises the role of travel, globalisation and movement for our contemporary world. * A large volume of research was found on the car (including electric cars), cycling, commuting, and short distance urban travel. * Underrepresented topics include rural mobility, long distance travel, and shipping and freight. Walking has received far less decarbonisation focused enquiry than cycling. * Whilst not all EU research could be represented, intra-EU differences were noted: e.g. the greater importance of two wheelers in Latvia; how more children to walk to school in Eastern European countries; the renaissance of the tram in France; and the large proportion of urban Finns frequently driving to their rural second home. * Across the span of SSH, researchers frame the problem of transport decarbonisation differently (both from each other, and from more technical disciplines). These framings often point towards different solutions. For instance, they ask: what is the effect of technological, demographic and economic trends on transport emissions?; why do policymakers/scholars focus on certain transport solutions over others?; how do transport modes ‘compete’?; how does the meaning of transport change over time?; and why do we travel