Exploring domestic consumption patterns: A HomeLabs study on water and energy use

La Matta Romero, Fiorella; Adkins, Deborah; Staddon, Chad

Abstract

Water and energy utilities are in constant pursuit of deeper insights into consumer use patterns within homes. Traditional demand management strategies often rely on an "information deficit" model, presuming that consumer behaviour can be altered simply by providing more information. This model overlooks the complex reasons behind consumer habits and consumption. In response, the application of social practice theory offers a more nuanced perspective, focusing not on individual behaviour but on the practice's material and socio-cultural dimensions. Modern showering behaviour, for example, emerged from the technical innovations that replaced baths with showers in most homes together with socio-cultural mores around appropriate standards of “cleanliness”. This article applies the insights of social practice theory to understand patterns of domestic water and energy consumption based on case studies in Bristol developed through an innovative approach called “HomeLabs”. This study presents the findings from research with 24 households to identify the factors that contribute to their water and energy consumption. We used the Change Points toolkit approach (based on social practice theory) to investigate the material and socio-cultural aspects that influence household energy and water consumption. The study focused on five themes of activities commonly performed at home, including showering and bathing, gardening and outdoor activities, kitchen and household care, laundry and cleaning, and heating and lighting. Surveys were applied to participants to identify the different household clusters and their water and energy use behaviour patterns. As part of the engagement process and empowerment, participants were provided with water and energy saving gadget kits (e.g., shower timers and tap flow regulators, etc), around the five themes. We found a number of interesting differences between participants' motivations for reducing water consumption compared to energy. The study provides an initial understanding of household water and energy consumption patterns based on a social practice approach and promotes mindful usage of these valuable resources while also promoting well-being and comfort at home.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: Sinapsis 2024
• Start Date: Jul 18, 2024
• End Date: Jul 20, 2024
• Acceptance Date: Jun 10, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 11, 2024
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: HomeLabs, Change Points, water and energy consumption, household clusters, socio-cultural factors
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13522894