The subjective view of energy in the urban built environment: what are the social factors that affect our interaction with energy?

Retrofitting the UK domestic built environment presents an outstanding opportunity to cut CO2 emissions, reduce national energy demand, and improve building performance. However, empirical data shows that post-retrofit energy savings are often short of their potential gains. A number of technical factors may help explain this gap, but difficult to quantify social factors are also significant and often under-emphasised in public policy. The research presented in this paper seeks to identify social factors relevant to energy consumption in the UK, and thereby improve our understanding of how home occupants interact with energy. For this research, the "Q Methodology" was employed and 64 "Q Statements" were generated from 118 returned questionnaires administered in Cambridge, UK. The broad social themes identified were: renewable/sustainable energy supply; retrofitting; energy conservation behaviours; and contentment with current energy consumption. The identified social barriers were: location of home; lack of knowledge; waiting for better performance/aesthetics; house restrictions (listed status or no cavity walls); and occupant opposition. Future research will use these results as part of a wider "Q Study" to be carried out in Manchester and Cardiff