Perspectives on quantifying and influencing household metabolism. Issue 2 (1st February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harder, Robin; Dombi, Mihály; Peters, Gregory M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental planning and management. Volume 60:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 178
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2017-02-01
• Subjects: household metabolism -- material flow analysis -- waste discharge -- resource use; City planning -- Periodicals; City planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2016.1142864
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-0568

Abstract

Abstract : Household metabolism is a concept that is concerned with the analysis of stocks and flows of energy, matter, and information at the household scale. This paper starts by providing a brief overview of the concept of household metabolism. Rather than attempting an in-depth review and analysis of this field, the article subsequently maps the contributions and perspectives of a broad variety of research traditions that have an interface with the concept of household metabolism. Next, this paper highlights a number of controversial issues connected to household metabolism, and studies at the interface of household metabolism. Finally, this paper argues that the concept of household metabolism can provide valuable help in diagnosing misalignments between enacted system dynamics and expressed societal goals, and can help to design research that facilitates their alignment.