Abstract
While the adoption of an energy services approach is regarded as an important
aspect of a low carbon economy, potentially involving greater consumer
participation in delivering energy services, relatively few energy service providers
(e.g. Energy Service Companies: ESCOs) exist in the UK, and little research has
been conducted upon the kinds of beliefs associated with such organisations by
members of the public, including ESCO customers. This research begins to
address this research gap by means of a case study of a refurbished, mixed-use
development in Linthwaite, Yorkshire: Titanic Mill. The project is notable for
claims of carbon neutrality and lower fuel bills, the installation of low carbon
technologies and intention to create a resident-owned ESCO (Mill Energy
Services). Case study methods included content analysis of materials promulgated
by the developers and a group discussion with residents. These suggest that Titanic
Mill is characterised by passive rather than active roles for residents in delivering
energy services, at both individual and collective levels. Some residents already
express disappointment with actual bills, despite developers’ claims. It is
concluded that co-provision is unlikely to be achieved unless all actors
(developers, energy consultants and residents) recast how energy services are
conceived and communicated, both visually and verbally. Residents’ enthusiasm
for rethinking demand feedback, as well as some individuals’ willingness to
participate in the ESCO, suggest a platform upon which a transformation towards
collective co-provision of energy services could occur, in the uncertain and
dynamic contexts of a gradually emerging sense of community, and fluctuating
energy markets.
aspect of a low carbon economy, potentially involving greater consumer
participation in delivering energy services, relatively few energy service providers
(e.g. Energy Service Companies: ESCOs) exist in the UK, and little research has
been conducted upon the kinds of beliefs associated with such organisations by
members of the public, including ESCO customers. This research begins to
address this research gap by means of a case study of a refurbished, mixed-use
development in Linthwaite, Yorkshire: Titanic Mill. The project is notable for
claims of carbon neutrality and lower fuel bills, the installation of low carbon
technologies and intention to create a resident-owned ESCO (Mill Energy
Services). Case study methods included content analysis of materials promulgated
by the developers and a group discussion with residents. These suggest that Titanic
Mill is characterised by passive rather than active roles for residents in delivering
energy services, at both individual and collective levels. Some residents already
express disappointment with actual bills, despite developers’ claims. It is
concluded that co-provision is unlikely to be achieved unless all actors
(developers, energy consultants and residents) recast how energy services are
conceived and communicated, both visually and verbally. Residents’ enthusiasm
for rethinking demand feedback, as well as some individuals’ willingness to
participate in the ESCO, suggest a platform upon which a transformation towards
collective co-provision of energy services could occur, in the uncertain and
dynamic contexts of a gradually emerging sense of community, and fluctuating
energy markets.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Energy and Environment |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
