Until the present day, research on fuel poverty focussing on the point of view of those concerned is few and far between. The present paper aims at filling this gap, analysing experiences with and ...behavioural responses to fuel poverty. It examines the day-to-day energy situation of households, which are poor/at-risk-of-poverty and/or suffering from fuel poverty in a case study conducted in the Austrian capital Vienna. Qualitative interviews provide the data for investigating the relevant factors in causing fuel poverty (among those, bad housing conditions, outdated appliances, financial problems), and provide a basis for discussion about the respective behavioural strategies of the people concerned. The results show that the ways of handling this problematic situation vary greatly and that people follow different strategies when it comes to inventing solutions for coping with the restrictions and finding ways of satisfying at least a part of their basic energy needs. Nonetheless, it also clearly surfaces that the scope of action is limited in many cases, which in turn only supports the claim that changes in the overall conditions are essential.
► This paper scrutinises experiences with and behavioural reactions to fuel poverty. ► Analysis of 50 qualitative interviews in Viennese low-income households. ► Low-income and/or fuel poor households face various strains. ► Ways of dealing with fuel poverty vary greatly, scope of action is limited. ► Households are very creative when it comes to coping with restricted conditions.
This quotation clearly shows that energy is a basic requirement for social integration and social life, and that it is also tightly linked to social structure and power relations. Energy consumption ...is a manifestation and part of social stratification, and social inequalities often become evident in energy practices. Today’s industrialised, high-tech societies – as opposed to societies of the past – are characterised by their energy-intensive ways of life.
Current lifestyles include patterns of consumption based on a high level of consumption of (finite) resources. For a long time, excessive consumption of energy was equated with social progress and modernisation.
Abundant, salutary, problematic – energy makes history. As a symbol, resource and consumer good, it shapes technologies, politics, societies and cultural world views. Focussing on a range of energy ...types, from electricity and oil to bioenergy, this volume analyzes the social, cultural and political concepts and discourses of energy and their implementation and materialization within technical systems, applications, media representations and consumer practice. By examining and connecting production, mediation and consumption aspects from an international and interdisciplinary perspective, the book offers an innovative view on how energy is imagined, discussed, staged and used.
'Nachhaltiger Konsum hat in den letzten Jahren an gesellschaftlicher Bedeutung gewonnen. Zunehmend mehr KonsumentInnen orientieren sich bei ihren Entscheidungen an Umweltfreundlichkeit, ...Sozialverträglichkeit oder Generationenverantwortung. Im Beitrag wird am Beispiel von Ernährung gezeigt, welche Chancen und Barrieren für nachhaltigen Konsum bestehen und welche Maßnahmen für eine Ausweitung von nachhaltigem Konsum notwendig sind. Dazu werden empirische Ergebnisse eines österreichischen Forschungsprojekts zu Ernährungspraktiken und nachhaltiger Entwicklung präsentiert, wobei der thematische Schwerpunkt auf Konsumbiographien und auf dem Konsum von Bio-Lebensmitteln liegt.' (Autorenreferat)
'Sustainable consumption achieved social recognition over the last years. More and more consumers regard environmental friendliness, social responsibility or responsibility for future generations as important aspects for their purchasing decisions. The article focuses on food consumption and discusses strategies of supporting sustainable consumption. Selected empirical results of an Austrian qualitative-research project on food consumption patterns and sustainable development are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on consumer biographies and the consumption of organically grown food.' (author's abstract)|
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