Abstract
BackgroundThere have been numerous research papers focusing on improving energy consumption and energy behaviour in domestic and residential contexts. However, workplaces and especially industry settings have gained less attention in scientific literature, even though the industry sector is one of the largest energy consumers in the world. This article introduces a methodological framework that utilizes the energy culture concept, to support understanding the factors that influence energy culture at business industry companies.MethodsBuilding on the concept of energy culture, we introduce an interdisciplinary method, which assesses organizations’ energy culture from different perspectives and recognizes the possibilities for sustainability transitions. To validate this method, the developed energy culture survey has been verified by 27 expert participants from different industry-related companies located in Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Germany France, and Austria.ResultsOur analysis highlights the need to consider diverse, interdisciplinary aspects to create a successful method for enhancing energy culture in the industrial sector. This will take into consideration human aspects, related to cognitive norms, beliefs, and aspirations, as well as to human interaction with the material world.ConclusionsIndustrial energy cultures context differs from domestic and residential contexts, and the knowledge from one context cannot be transferred to another context as such. Based on investigated studies undertaken for residential, office, and other sectors and the lessons learned, we developed a systematic method for energy culture understanding in industries. Energy managers may use it, as well as other individuals involved in energy culture issues in the industrial business sector, to evaluate the state of energy culture and engage employees towards new energy-related practices.
Highlights
There have been numerous research papers focusing on improving energy consumption and energy behaviour in domestic and residential contexts
We have examined studies undertaken for residential, office and other sectors in order to lay down the foundation of the method for changing energy behaviours and energy culture [6, 18, 24, 25, 34,35,36, 38, 40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52]
Suggested interdisciplinary method to energy culture transition in industries In order to create a method for enhancing the energy culture in the industrial sector, we have investigated studies undertaken for residential, office and other sectors to identify lesson learnt and insights to lay down the foundation of the method
Summary
There have been numerous research papers focusing on improving energy consumption and energy behaviour in domestic and residential contexts. This article introduces a methodological framework that utilizes the energy culture concept, to support understanding the factors that influence energy culture at business industry companies. Energy behaviour and energy culture framework In recent years, there has been a growing interest in programmes and methods aimed at changing energy behaviour at the European and global level. Oksman et al Energ Sustain Soc (2021) 11:28 companies and consumers are worried about global warming and want to contribute to a more sustainable society, but they need advice, new methods and support on how to do so [3]. Energy behaviours are largely complex and shaped by many elements and factors including context, motivation and feedback [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The energy behaviour is not limited to individual behaviour only, but it is related to broader scales—how families, communities, institutions or companies behave at large [3, 10]
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