A socio-anthropological approach to energy-related behaviours and innovations at the household level

Abstract

This paper aims at examining the relationships between individuals and society in the sector of domestic energy consumption with a socio-anthropological perspective: the focus is on how interactions between household members are socially shaped. Based on empirical material gathered in Belgian households of at least two persons, the paper has two aims: depicting current social representations on domestic roles and showing to which conditions and with which potential paradoxes new energy-related practices may be introduced in the domestic area: negotiations between household members versus valorisation of each person’s autonomy, redefinition of domestic tasks with potential redistribution of domestic power, identity management – both for the individual self and for the couple unit –, reflexivity as opposed to routines (which are an often-cited characteristic of domestic tasks’ efficiency)