Hawke Research Institute
The
Centre for Work + Life at the University of
South Australia is the social sciences research partner in the project 'The
intelligent grid in a new housing development – Lochiel Park' led by
Professor Wasim Saman of the Institute for Sustainable Systems and
Technology (ISST) at the University of South Australia. A key focus of
the project is evaluating and monitoring energy use in a
state-of-the-art sustainable housing development,
Lochiel Park Green
Village.
The Centre for Work + Life has conducted research using qualitative and quantitative methods with residents in 2009 and 2010 to understand factors that facilitate and inhibit their behaviour around environmentally friendly energy use. This will include an investigation of the way factors such as working and travel patterns; household configuration; stage of life; the domestic division of labour and engagement with the local community shape the way households interact with the technology being trialled.
UniSA student Stephanie Kempson won a 2009 summer scholarship and worked with the centre, identifying significant literature for the study.
The qualitative data has been collected and analysed. These data suggest that pro-environmental behaviour exists in some tension with the comfort and convenience of household members. The next phase of the project will survey householders about their energy use, domestic routines and interaction with innovative household technology and correlate information about these factors with household demographics. The survey data will be integrated with metering data about household energy use to provide a comprehensive picture of the kinds of households most likely to be energy efficient and to provide insight into the factors that aid and inhibit energy efficient practices.
The findings from this project will be of interest to several
stakeholder groups, including designers, developers, councils, as well
as local and state government. The report of this project is
downloadable below.
NEW
Comfort,
convenience and cost: the calculus of sustainable living at Lochiel Park (2.8MB)
Jane Edwards and Barbara Pocock, Centre for Work + Life, May 2011
This report presents results of a primarily qualitative investigation of the
social influences on 'green' attitudes and household practices of residents, or
intending residents, in Lochiel Park.
Dr Jane Edwards, Research Associate, undertook the research for this project.
