Can households dramatically reduce their energy consumption? What can the social sciences tell us about the most effective policies? And, how do the UK government’s existing policies measure up to what cutting-edge research and practical experience tells us?
The University of Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption Institute and the Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand are bringing together leading thinkers from the world of social science, policy and practice to grapple with challenges of reducing household energy use.
Motivating households to reduce their energy consumption or adopt energy savings measures are notoriously difficult to achieve. Over 25% of the UK’s total carbon emissions come from energy use in the home. Rapid and widespread reductions in household energy use are, therefore, central to meeting ambitious and necessary carbon reduction targets. As a policy area, however, reducing demand for energy in the home has been the underdog to debates about technological choices of energy production.
The day is split into three parts, attendees can choose to come to all three or individual parts.
1: On the home front: The challenges of reducing household energy use - Workshop
Time: 16.00 – 17.30
Facilitated by Jonathan Atkinson from Manchester-based Carbon-Coop and the Sustainable Consumption Institute’s Dr Victoria Johnson, this workshop - aimed at students, staff and local practitioners - will unravel the complexity and explore the challenges of household energy demand reduction from a range of perspectives within the social sciences.
Over the duration of the event, participants will develop and discuss key questions relating to the challenges of energy demand reduction in the home. Participants will then have the opportunity to put these questions to leading thinkers from the world of social science, policy and practice at a BBC Question Time style Energy Question Time, held on the evening of the 5 of November, 2015.
2: On the home front: The challenges of reducing household energy use – Energy Networking Reception
Time: 17.30-19.00
Hosted by the Sustainable Consumption Institute and EPSRC-funded Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand, this energy networking event is open to all students and staff at the University of Manchester and practitioners working on energy in Greater Manchester.
Over a drink and nibbles, meet colleagues working on energy and discuss the wealth of exciting and cutting-edge research going on across the University of Manchester.
3: On the home front: The challenges of reducing household energy use - Energy Question Time
Time: 19.00-20.30
Chaired by award-winning environment journalist for the Guardian, Fiona Harvey, join a panel of leading experts from the world of social science, policy and practice for a BBC Question Time style debate.
Can households dramatically reduce their energy consumption? What can the social sciences tell us about the most effective policies? And, how do the UK government’s existing policies measure up to what cutting-edge research and practical experience tells us?
Put your questions to the experts for what is set to be an explosive, exciting and dynamic debate.
Confirmed speakers include:
Marianne Heaslip (Manchester-based architect)
Dr Mari Martiskainen (Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand)
Councillor Kate Chappell, Juliet Davenport, CEO Good Energy
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/on-the-home-front-the-challenges-of-reducing-household-energy-use-registration-18324031672
