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Engaging consumers and citizens in the creation of low-carbon energy markets

Panel: 9. Dynamics of consumption

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Eva Heiskanen, University of Helsinki, Consumer Society Research Centre, Finland
Kaisa Matschoss, University of Helsinki
Consumer Society Research Centre, Finland
Petteri Repo, Consumer Society Research Centre at the University of Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

Engaging consumers and the public (i.e. citizens) has become a widely accepted procedure when developing and adopting new services, technologies and policies. In the energy domain, consumers and citizens have in recent years been engaged to participate in the development of smart grids, services and meters as well as low-carbon energy services such as micro-production of energy. In this article, we analyse relevant topics and framings for consumer and public engagement based on survey results from Finland in 2013 on energy efficiency services that can be provided through real-time monitoring or control equipment, for instance. We argue that it is critical to consider the contexts and aims of the engagement when assessing its outcomes and that consumers are also likely to provide responses which are located at the intersection of consumerism and citizenship. Furthermore, the way engagement is carried out may have an effect on how individuals respond as consumers and as citizens.

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