Energy-related practices, representations and environmental knowledge: A sociological study

Lorise Moreau and Anne-Laure Wibrin, University of Louvain

Keywords

energy-related practices, knowledge, representations, environment, socio-demographic characteristics, households, social determinants, values, behaviours, opinions

Abstract

In this paper we present results from a study that combines a qualitative and a quantitative approach. In order to understand the role of technical or environmental knowledge and representations on energy-related practices, we conducted a survey based on a representative sample of 1,000 Belgian households as well as seven in-depth interviews.

With data from the survey we explain energy-related practices (use of electrical appliances, standby consumption, and so on) by social determinants. Moreover, we study the relationships between these determinants, i.e. between: knowledge (about global warming, renewable energy, etc.), environmental representations and demographic characteristics (age and gender).

Data from in-depth interviews were used to study how and why people behave the way they do. We try to establish if there are links between behaviours, opinions and social determinants.

As for them, the in-depth interviews concern: practices (how people heat and light up their homes, how they do the washing and so on), to what these practices are related (habits, education, social representations) and the relationships between practices and values.

The data from both the survey and the interviews shows that a good environmental knowledge is not necessarily associated with a strong environmental concern nor is it consistent with environmentally friendly practices. This finding questions theories that purport actor rationality.