Routines, reflexivity and change in adolescents' energy consumption related to electronic media usage in times of scarcity
Routines, reflexivity and change in adolescents' energy consumption related to electronic media usage in times of scarcity
Young people have a growing relevance as consumers and active agents in households and society. Although there is a considerable body of evidence showing the relevance and consequences of their socialization processes, attention given to their energy consumption is still scarce. Moreover, as adolescents reproduce in their daily lives society's dominant values, such as those of consumer culture, as well as cutting-edge social and cultural transformations [9], the analysis of their practices gives valuable insights into the emergence of changes in energy consumption.
A type of energy consumption that has grown significantly and is estimated that it will become a substantial part of the electricity used in households relates to the use of electronic media [3] [4]. Although it has been observed that changes in daily practices related to these technologies can considerably increase the energy consumed, the energy impact of their use in everyday life has not been adequately studied [5] [6]. Since young people tend to be responsible for a significant portion of households' energy consumption, largely due to their intensive use of information technologies and communication [7] [8], this project aims at analyzing the current trends of evolution of young people's everyday practices related to electronic media in a context of economic scarcity. Due to the relevance that the consumption practices assume as an expression of identity during adolescence [9], as well as the centrality these technologies acquire in the daily lives of adolescents, the project focuses on this particular group.
It is proposed to adopt an innovative approach, based on theories of practice, which have advantages compared to other analytical approaches by allowing to link individual's actions of everyday life with socio-technical systems and infrastructures in order to better understand the complexity of processes of change and continuity. In this perspective, the practices of energy consumption through the use of electronic media are analyzed as entities historically constructed, shaped by material infrastructures and institutional arrangements and daily appropriated by individuals according to their interpretations of what is normal and appropriate. The proposed methodology has a qualitative character, including in-depth interviews with young people and interviews with their group of friends.
The results of the project will contribute to the development of knowledge about the consumption practices of adolescents, especially in contexts of economic scarcity. At the end of the project the return of results to the population studied may contribute to their reflexivity about energy consumption and to any changes in their practices - that necessarily co-evolve with changes in socio-technical systems -, towards energy saving or efficiency. The results can also inform the design of public policies aiming at the promotion of low energy intensive practices.
Energy consumption
Electronic media
Practices
Youth
Young people have a growing relevance as consumers and active agents in households and society. Although there is a considerable body of evidence showing the relevance and consequences of their socialization processes, attention given to their energy consumption is still scarce. Moreover, as adolescents reproduce in their daily lives society's dominant values, such as those of consumer culture, as well as cutting-edge social and cultural transformations [9], the analysis of their practices gives valuable insights into the emergence of changes in energy consumption.
A type of energy consumption that has grown significantly and is estimated that it will become a substantial part of the electricity used in households relates to the use of electronic media [3] [4]. Although it has been observed that changes in daily practices related to these technologies can considerably increase the energy consumed, the energy impact of their use in everyday life has not been adequately studied [5] [6]. Since young people tend to be responsible for a significant portion of households' energy consumption, largely due to their intensive use of information technologies and communication [7] [8], this project aims at analyzing the current trends of evolution of young people's everyday practices related to electronic media in a context of economic scarcity. Due to the relevance that the consumption practices assume as an expression of identity during adolescence [9], as well as the centrality these technologies acquire in the daily lives of adolescents, the project focuses on this particular group.
It is proposed to adopt an innovative approach, based on theories of practice, which have advantages compared to other analytical approaches by allowing to link individual's actions of everyday life with socio-technical systems and infrastructures in order to better understand the complexity of processes of change and continuity. In this perspective, the practices of energy consumption through the use of electronic media are analyzed as entities historically constructed, shaped by material infrastructures and institutional arrangements and daily appropriated by individuals according to their interpretations of what is normal and appropriate. The proposed methodology has a qualitative character, including in-depth interviews with young people and interviews with their group of friends.
The results of the project will contribute to the development of knowledge about the consumption practices of adolescents, especially in contexts of economic scarcity. At the end of the project the return of results to the population studied may contribute to their reflexivity about energy consumption and to any changes in their practices - that necessarily co-evolve with changes in socio-technical systems -, towards energy saving or efficiency. The results can also inform the design of public policies aiming at the promotion of low energy intensive practices.