Walking with Energy: Challenging energy invisibility and connecting citizens with energy futures through participatory research. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ambrose, Aimee
• Is Part Of: Futures. Volume 117(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Citizen involvement -- Energy invisibility -- Local energy policy -- Qualitative research -- Energy from waste; Economic forecasting -- Periodicals; Technological forecasting -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; Prévision économique -- Périodiques; Prévision technologique -- Périodiques; Politique économique -- Périodiques; Economic forecasting; Economic policy; Technological forecasting; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 330.0112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2020.102528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-3287

Abstract

Highlights: Our contemporary relationship with energy is characterised by complete dependency and almost complete ignorance. The Walking with Energy method was effective at promoting a reconnection between ordinary citizens and energy. The method offers scope to raise awareness and foster environmental citizenship. Immersive first hand encounters with energy generation had the greatest impact on participants. The method offers scope to change the way we engage with citizens about energy policy and our energy futures. Abstract: Since the shift away from burning solid fuels in the home, energy has become increasingly invisible in our daily lives and our contemporary relationship with energy is characterised by complete dependency and almost complete ignorance. The Walking with Energy project draws together a range of innovative research approaches to form a new research methodology that is social (offers opportunities for social learning), embedded (in the landscape in question), embodied (engages body and mind) and that is sensitive to the past. The resultant approach was tested through a pilot study which sought to better understand how our relationship with energy has evolved to become so distant and assess whether acts of research participation can promote a greater level of interest in and engagement with future energy policies and decisions amongst 'ordinary' citizens by enabling first hand encounters with energy generation. Using a case study of an Energy from Waste facility in the UK, the pilot revealed that such an approach offers significant scope to go beyond a process of data collection and promote a reconnection between people and energy with the possibility of effecting lasting changes in environmental citizenship.