Household's use of information and communication technologies: A future challenge for energy savings?

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Abstract

Increasing consumption of electricity due to a growing number of information and communication technology (ICT) appliances in households is a major challenge to reducing energy consumption. Several studies have predicted escalating ICT-related energy consumption, but relatively little has been said and done about possible initiatives to curb this increase.

This paper presents results of a research project focusing on how dynamics of consumption influence household energy consumption on ICT. Results of the project include scenarios on how electricity consumption on ICT is expected to grow, suggesting that in a few years on average ICT will make up half of household electricity consumption. Recent initiatives from various actors to prevent this development are presented and discussed, and difficulties in regulating this area, as compared to other parts of household electricity consumption are highlighted. Through presentation and discussion of qualitative interviews with families having extensive ICT use in their everyday lives, the interviews illustrate how users domesticate and use technologies in many different ways. The interviews reveal a variety of practices and dynamics in different aspects of everyday life, including sport, shopping, entertainment and different hobbies. The growing electricity consumption related to ICT is thus as dependent on the consumers' use and domestication of the technologies as on the energy efficiency of the appliances. By analysing the interviews with the use of theories of domestication of technologies, it is argued that aspects such as consumers' creativity in technology use and their non-adaption are relevant aspects to include in policy and regulation discussions on how to limit the escalating electricity consumption from household ICT use.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConference proceedings : ECEEE Summer Studies 2009. Act! Innovate! Deliver! Reducing energy demand sustainably
PublisherSamlignsnummer för enstaka enskilt utgivna arbeteb
Publication date2009
Pages1773-1784
ISBN (Print)978-91-633-4454-1
Publication statusPublished - 2009
EventECEEE 2009 Summer Study - La Colle sur Loup, France
Duration: 1 Jun 20096 Jun 2009

Conference

ConferenceECEEE 2009 Summer Study
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityLa Colle sur Loup
Period01/06/200906/06/2009

Keywords

  • Information and communication technologies
  • Energy consumption
  • Consumers
  • TV
  • Domestication
  • Scenarios
  • Everyday life
  • consumption dynamics
  • Practices

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