PreprintArticleVersion 1This version is not peer-reviewed
“It’s Fine for Those Who Are Interested, But I Don’t Care”: Uncovering Energy Flexibility of Everyday Rhythms and Routines for Households with Real-Time Electricity Pricing
Version 1
: Received: 5 July 2024 / Approved: 5 July 2024 / Online: 5 July 2024 (12:05:11 CEST)
How to cite:
Hansen, A. R.; Aagaard, L. K. “It’s Fine for Those Who Are Interested, But I Don’t Care”: Uncovering Energy Flexibility of Everyday Rhythms and Routines for Households with Real-Time Electricity Pricing. Preprints2024, 2024070537. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0537.v1
Hansen, A. R.; Aagaard, L. K. “It’s Fine for Those Who Are Interested, But I Don’t Care”: Uncovering Energy Flexibility of Everyday Rhythms and Routines for Households with Real-Time Electricity Pricing. Preprints 2024, 2024070537. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0537.v1
Hansen, A. R.; Aagaard, L. K. “It’s Fine for Those Who Are Interested, But I Don’t Care”: Uncovering Energy Flexibility of Everyday Rhythms and Routines for Households with Real-Time Electricity Pricing. Preprints2024, 2024070537. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0537.v1
APA Style
Hansen, A. R., & Aagaard, L. K. (2024). “It’s Fine for Those Who Are Interested, But I Don’t Care”: Uncovering Energy Flexibility of Everyday Rhythms and Routines for Households with Real-Time Electricity Pricing. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0537.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Hansen, A. R. and Line Kryger Aagaard. 2024 "“It’s Fine for Those Who Are Interested, But I Don’t Care”: Uncovering Energy Flexibility of Everyday Rhythms and Routines for Households with Real-Time Electricity Pricing" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0537.v1
Abstract
Reducing and time-shifting household energy demand is important for a sustainable transition of energy systems, and dynamic electricity pricing, like real-time pricing (RTP), is a popular instrument to incite households to change energy demand. However, the effect of such products relies on the assumption that dynamic price signals incorporate into everyday routines and rhythms. This paper investigates the flexibility of households’ everyday routines and rhythms. The study provides three insights based on 11 Danish household visits and interviews with electricity customers who are new to RTP. First, the interviews indicated confusion over terminology for dynamic pricing products and low interest in flexible energy demand. Second, everyday practices (already) appeared flexible but for other reasons than energy demand flexibility. Third, energy habits were important for providing meaning to everyday practices. In addition, the study shows that energy flexibility is not just about energy demand, but rather about all the other activities that form routines and rhythms in everyday life. We suggest 1) designing products that reflect ‘natural’ or ‘societal’ daily rhythms, 2) focusing on the engaged households, and 3) being aware that for some households, changes in pricing, including new payment schemes, might put extra pressure on already harried everyday routines.
Keywords
Energy Flexibility; Demand Response; Sustainability; Energy demand; Sustainable Consumption
Subject
Social Sciences, Sociology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
