Energy Fables Challenging Ideas in the Energy Sector

Energy Fables: Challenging Ideas in the Energy Sector takes a fresh look at key terms and concepts around which energy research and policy are organised. Drawing on recent research in energy and transport studies, and combining this with concepts from sociology, economics, social theory and technology studies, the chapters in this collection review and challenge different aspects of received wisdom. Brief but critical introductions to classic notions like those of ‘energy efficiency’, ‘elasticity’, ‘energy services’ and the ‘energy trilemma’, together with discussions and analyses of well-worn phrases about ‘low hanging fruit’ and ‘keeping the lights on’, articulate aspects of the energy debate that are often taken for granted. In re-working these established themes and adding twists to familiar tales, the authors develop a repertoire of new ideas about the fundamentals of energy demand and carbon reduction. This book presents a valuable and thought-provoking resource for students, researchers and policy-makers interested in energy demand, politics and policy.

List of contributors Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Elizabeth Shove, Jacopo Torriti and Jenny Rinkinen Part I. What is energy for? 2. Energy Demand Jenny Rinkinen and Elizabeth Shove 3. Energy Services Janine Morley Part II. Characteristics 4. Energy Efficiency Elizabeth Shove 5. Rebound Greg Marsden 6. Elasticity Jacopo Torriti Part III. Injunctions 7. Low Hanging Fruit Elizabeth Shove and Noel Cass 8. Keeping the Lights on Gordon Walker 9. Promoting Smart Homes Mike Hazas and Yolande Strengers Part IV. Policies 10. The Energy Trilemma Jenny Rinkinen and Elizabeth Shove 11. Flexibility Jacopo Torriti 12. Non-Energy Policy Sarah Royston and Jan Selby 13. Postscript: Can Energy Researchers and Policy Makers Change their Spots? Elizabeth Shove, Jenny Rinkinen and Jacopo Torriti Index

Jenny Rinkinen is a Researcher in the Centre for Consumer Society Research at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Elizabeth Shove is a Professor in theDepartment of Sociology, Lancaster University, UK,and was PIof the DEMAND Research Center. She is the author/editor of numerous titles, including The Nexus of Practices: Connections, Constellations, Practitioners(Routledge, 2017, withAllison Hui andTheodore Schatzki) and Sustainable Practices: Social Theory and Climate Change (Routledge, 2013, with Nicola Spurling). Jacopo Torriti is Professor of Energy Economics and Policy in the School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, UK, and author of Peak Energy Demand and Demand Side Response (Routledge, 2016).