The Meanings of Practices for Energy Consumption – a Comparison of Homes and Workplaces

Abstract

We examine how building and appliance technologies relate to their use by occupants through practices at home and at work. The aim is to analyse how practices are influenced by buildings and other technologies and by social requirements and to add to ongoing research on how to contribute to a transition to more sustainable everyday practices. Interview, quantitative and observational material are used to compare experiences of occupying and using two different types of buildings, passive housing and large modern research laboratories. We apply the practice theory approach. The passive house case showed that the main project of a liveable, low-impact new building was on a fairly manageable scale, with a viable design and occupants who were prepared to adapt to it. The research lab study showed, however, that the configuration of unsustainable technologies and practices can occur at the design stage, and that most actors had very limited room for manoeuvre.