Focusing upon energy conservation and the built environment, this book engages with areas of debate and policy currently dominated by technologists and natural scientists. Based upon empirical research, the book develops a sociological analysis of the science and technology of sustainability and energy efficiency.

Elizabeth Shove is Director of the Centre for Science Studies at the University of Lancaster.

List of figures and table

xi

Acknowledgements

xii

Introduction

1

(12)

Environmental sociology and energy efficiency

2

(5)

Engaging with energy and buildings

7

(2)

Science, knowledge and practice

9

(4)

Building research environments

13

(23)

Defining energy research

15

(2)

Comparing research environments

17

(13)

Close communities

19

(3)

Co-ordinated contractors

22

(3)

Contracting knowledge

25

(2)

Networking expertise

27

(3)

Positioning energy efficiency

30

(2)

Changing research environments

32

(4)

Energy knowledges

36

(19)

Constructing conventions

38

(2)

Abstracting knowledge: capturing solar energy

40

(4)

Building knowledge: demonstrations and case studies

44

(3)

Replicating knowledge

47

(6)

Design tools

48

(2)

Case studies

50

(3)

Converging conventions

53

(2)

Theories of knowledge and practice

55

(21)

Theories of technical change

57

(7)

Barriers to energy efficiency

60

(3)

Leaping the barriers

63

(1)

Changing course

64

(8)

Following energy efficiency

72

(4)

The politics of insulation

76

(17)

Conventional explanations

77

(2)

Cultures of energy conservation

79

(5)

Denmark

79

(1)

Sweden

80

(2)

France

82

(1)

The European insulation industry

83

(1)

Filling the gap

84

(6)

First fillings 1959--74

85

(1)

Curbing the cowboys 1975--81

86

(2)

Foam fears 1981--83

88

(1)

Fibre wars 1984--92

89

(1)

Government, industry and consumer interaction

90

(3)

Organizing design: housing and energy efficiency

93

(19)

Best practice and decision-making

94

(2)

Contexts of action

96

(13)

Shifting associations

97

(4)

Local pressures

101

(4)

Private dilemmas

105

(4)

Context, choice and change

109

(3)

Developing interests: office buildings and barriers

112

(16)

Property relationships

115

(9)

Investing and exchanging

116

(4)

Nesting and using

120

(3)

Globalizing design

123

(1)

Fluctuating priorities

124

(4)

Conclusions

128

(12)

Understanding energy efficiency

128

(4)

Technical convergence, cultural diversity

132

(3)

Reconstructing research

135

(5)

Notes

140

(3)

Bibliography

143

(14)

Index

157

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