A study was undertaken to review international literature pertaining to people's behavior in and ... more A study was undertaken to review international literature pertaining to people's behavior in and around floodwater. The review focused on people's voluntary entry of floodwater. From the literature, five predominant reasons for entering floodwater were identified, including undertaking a recreational activity; attempting to reach a destination; retrieving property, livestock, or pets; undertaking employment duties; and rescuing or assisting with evacuation. Two primary influences on entering floodwater were found, namely risk perception (i.e., being unaware of or underestimating the risk from flooding) and social influences (i.e., being influenced by others). Demographics and environmental and temporal factors also played a part in decisionmaking about whether to enter floodwater or not. Emergency managers should take account of such factors when devising future public education strategies. Further research, including comparisons with current theoretical models, could help identify additional influences on decision-making for floodwater entry.
Building on research into flash flood fatalities, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NS... more Building on research into flash flood fatalities, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) recently funded a literature review (through the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program) exploring pedestrian and motorist safety during floods. The review looked at risk perception, the influence of warning systems, human behaviour, the activities undertaken, and the characteristics and motivations of people who died as a result of entering floodwater. The research also looked at strategies used in Australia and internationally to promote appropriate behaviour around floodwater. In Australia, 206 flash flooding fatalities occurred between 1950 and 2008. Sixty-one percent of flash flood fatalities in this period were known to be transport related (vehicle, pedestrian and other modes). People also died as a result of wading, swimming, recreating, rescuing others, evacuating too late (fleeing), retrieving property, and copy-cat behaviour. Current research suggests that the predominant motivating reason for people to enter floodwater is that people are attempting to reach a particular destination in the course of their normal everyday routines such as travelling to and from work and picking up and dropping children off at school. Strategies and activities used within Australia and internationally may provide new ideas and approaches to improve pedestrian and motorist safety in floods.
Vehicle fleets are considered an important context for the deployment of innovations such as elec... more Vehicle fleets are considered an important context for the deployment of innovations such as electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Fleet vehicles constitute a significant share of vehicle registrations, yet little research has been conducted into how the make-up of the changing fleet market could influence upscaling of innovations. This paper presents an in-depth study of the fleet market in the United Kingdom and assesses synergies between V2G and vehicle fleets by analysing socio-technical trends. The approach taken allows for analysing the role of users and markets in upscaling sociotechnical transitions. The paper provides a system-level account of the fleet market, and shows how changing user characteristics, the rise of telematics, Low Emission Zones and changes to business operations and labour relations present specific drivers and challenges for V2G. It is concluded that userrelated changes in the market environment are highly influential in shaping the upscaling trajectory of sustainable innovations such as V2G.
This paper investigates why material throughput remains high in the UK automotive industry when t... more This paper investigates why material throughput remains high in the UK automotive industry when there are opportunities for material efficiency improvements. Informed by socio-technical studies of automobility, the paper emphasises the importance of recognising how decisions regarding material use are always shaped by more than simply cost considerations. Drawing on industry interviews, six interconnected socio-technical factors are identified that guide the vehicle design and manufacturing process. These are: (1) customer preferences; (2) market positioning; (3) techno-economic feasibility; (4) supply chain feasibility; (5) regulation and (6) organisational attributes. These factors can provide insights into the current operating context of the UK automotive industry and help explain why the average material intensity of vehicles and vehicle throughput are increasing. Overall, the paper shows that the efficiency of material use in the UK automotive industry is the outcome of complex and advanced design and manufacturing processes. Understanding these processes and the factors that guide them can potentially increase the likelihood of the automotive industry adopting material efficiency initiatives.
Cities across the global are looking for structural systemic solutions to mobility related proble... more Cities across the global are looking for structural systemic solutions to mobility related problems such as congestion, pollution, and lack of (public) space. Electrification seems to accelerate and address (local) environmental problems, but not necessarily contributes to just mobility by opening up public space, creating broader access to mobility and supporting health. In this paper we describe an experimental transition governance process in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in the context of the local climate agreement. It used transition governance to explore how the social, cultural, institutional and technological changes needed to achieve a just and sustainable mobility future could be accelerated. The politically supported but informal governance process mobilized publicprivate-civil networks of actors in the context of the local climate agreement to co-create a transition strategy based on zero-emissions, social and shared mobility in 2030, aiming for all vehicles left to be shared and free from tailpipe emissions. It accelerated a number of debates, actions and changes in the city and pushed local policies to further prioritize walking, cycling, sharing and public transport. Its ambitions have helped shape current formal urban spatial and mobility policies and institutional experimentation in the city, accelerated during the COVID pandemic.
Car sharing could support a transition away from private vehicle ownership and use. Attempts to u... more Car sharing could support a transition away from private vehicle ownership and use. Attempts to understand participation in car sharing have primarily focused on minor and major disruptions which catalyse change in practices. This paper examines how processes of entering, continuing or exiting car sharing systems unfold in Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. Car sharing is conceptualised as an arrangement of elements assembled, adjusted and supported by events, practices and habits. Drawing on biographically-oriented household interviews, we build on and extend existing understandings of change and stability in car sharing in four ways. First, by focusing on households rather than individual users, the paper complements recent attempts to understand the decoupling of family and private-car-based mobility. Second, under-examined processes of exiting, alongside entry and continuation are considered. Third, it highlights the importance of recognising more imperceptible, gradual and continuous changes which might not necessarily coincide with a disruptive event. Fourth, habits of shared car arrangements are demonstrated to be fragile and not as deeply ingrained as those associated with ownership. Existing household practices and habits thus raise further questions about the potential for shared mobility services to disrupt the primacy of the car.
Everyday (im)mobilities continuously emerge out of dynamic interactions between bodies, objects a... more Everyday (im)mobilities continuously emerge out of dynamic interactions between bodies, objects and environments. Demonstrating the importance of past behaviours, life course and context, mobility biographies research has supplemented and advanced previous understandings of the factors which sustain and transform everyday mobilities. Despite this, its empirical and theoretical scope remains limited. The primary focus on certain life stages and key events as triggers of change in long-term travel behaviour has meant the effects of small-scale, short-term and multi-directional changes have largely been overlooked or ignored. I argue this failure is in part due to prevailing conceptions of experience, habit and environment. Engaging primarily with John Dewey's writings and empirical materials generated with New Zealand migrants in London, I demonstrate how experience and habit can instead be understood as dynamic, relational and temporal processes. These New Zealanders, like other migrants, are shown to occupy multiple subject positions between, and experience complex dislocations and engagements with the practicalities of, places of departure and settlement. Their accounts help to foreground how events and happenings that continuously unfold in the everyday lives of migrants and non-migrants are undergone, negotiated, contested and fraught with uncertainty, innovation and ambivalence. Stretching across time and space, the cumulative, reinforcing and transformative effects of these processes do not coincide with pre-defined events but nonetheless change how movement, dwelling and subjectivities are differentially experienced and embodied.
In conjunction with the Australian-based Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technolog... more In conjunction with the Australian-based Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC), GNS Science is undertaking preliminary assessments of New Zealand’s sedimentary basins to evaluate their potential viability for the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). The capture and geological storage of CO2 is one of the most promising options for significantly reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions from major point sources such as electricity generating power stations and industrial processing sites. The Wanganui Basin, located on and about the southwest coast of North Island, is examined here as part of this New Zealand regional assessment project (Project 37 of the CO2CRC Regional Studies research portfolio). This report provides a preliminary assessment of CO2 storage opportunities in Wanganui Basin based on existing data. It aims to identify geological formations that offer storage potential and to define general areas with sufficient potential to conduct more ...
The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is interested in understanding how communit... more The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is interested in understanding how communities perceive flood hazards, how this affects their behaviour in terms of preparedness and response, and how this links with the development of education and communication strategies. To understand such aspects better, NSW SES has commissioned a series of research projects focussed on flooding in at-risk communities. Surveys using postal questionnaires were conducted in 2005 and 2007 to collect data on flood perceptions, preparedness, and warnings in the communities of Grafton, Narrabri, Albury and Maitland in New South Wales, Australia. Following the surveys, a series of focus groups was run to explore residents’ attitudes towards, and understanding of, flood risk and preparedness in the same four communities. The focus groups were held the week of 25-29 May 2009 in Grafton and Narrabri, and the week of 22-26 June 2009 in Albury and Maitland. Focus group sessions were semi-structured wit...
ABSTRACT Risk assessment is likely to be an important part of future CO2 sequestration projects i... more ABSTRACT Risk assessment is likely to be an important part of future CO2 sequestration projects in New Zealand. Although the global CO2 sequestration risk assessment community may be moving towards a common best-practice, neither a standard approach nor consistent views have yet been reached for risk assessment of carbon, capture and storage projects. This diversity of opinion arises in part because for many storage projects presently under consideration the risk assessment is focussed on containment where the probability of catastrophic leakage has been determined to be extremely low. These low probabilities, together with a general acceptance that appropriate uncertainties are not always well constrained (particularly for reservoir and seal flow properties), has lead some to question the utility of risk assessment. The purpose of this report is to outline the risk assessment methods best suited to potential future CO2 sequestration projects in New Zealand and to recommend tasks that, if completed, would either reduce the risk or enable the likelihood of these risks to be constrained better. To achieve these primary objectives we assembled a team from multiple organisations (GNS Science, Monitor Scientific, CRL Energy and University of NSW) with expertise in risk assessment, CO2 sequestration, geology, engineering, social science and economics. This report is the culmination of a review of existing methods, two risk workshops and a series of meeting between members of the team. The report sets the foundation for risk assessment of potential future carbon, capture and storage projects in New Zealand, outlining a series of practical steps that we believe are necessary to maximise the utility of risk assessment. (auth/DG)
Private domestic gardens have been the site of diverse inquiry in both the social and natural sci... more Private domestic gardens have been the site of diverse inquiry in both the social and natural sciences. Intersected by these inquiries this paper focuses on how ‘weeds’ are (re)constituted through gardening practices in domestic gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand. The paper arises out of an interdisciplinary ecological and social scientific study of the factors influencing the distribution and regeneration of 12 bird-dispersed native woody species from Riccarton Bush, an urban forest remnant of significant ecological rarity, into surrounding residential properties. As part of this study we were especially interested in how people’s everyday experiences and encounters in their gardens guide their gardening practices and what possibilities, if any, these create for self-introduced native seedlings to establish, and mature into adults. Drawing inspiration from literatures on human–plant relations we use the concepts of performance, non-human and ‘planty’ agencies to argue that weeds are performed by people and plants rather than having a pre-determined or pre-figured meaning. Empirically the paper seeks to highlight the diverse, unique and disruptive agencies of plants. Methodologically it reflects on ways of engaging with and researching human–plant relations. In concluding, the paper examines how concepts of performance, non-human and planty agencies can provide insights for weed management and urban plant conservation.
The 'Degrees of Possibility: Igniting Social Knowledge around Climate Change Workshop Report' was... more The 'Degrees of Possibility: Igniting Social Knowledge around Climate Change Workshop Report' was completed in June 2011. Authored by Karen Cronin, Brendan Doody and Alison Greenaway it also includes key contributions from Richard Le Heron, Janet Bornman, Matthew Henry, Amanda Wolf and Nick Lewis. The report presents a unique New Zealand take on the current state of social knowledge around climate change, highlights key questions that need to be addressed and potential processes for future engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The report provides a background to the workshop, summaries of the keynote presentations and a record of the ideas developed in the discussion groups and observations of the day. It also includes a summary of ideas for social research and suggests an approach for integrating social science into the wider research agenda on climate change.
Low temperature geothermal resources are various forms of heat energy, generally less than 150ºC,... more Low temperature geothermal resources are various forms of heat energy, generally less than 150ºC, drawn directly from the ground. Although worldwide there are a number of direct uses of these resources including space heating, bathing, domestic heat pumps, and heating greenhouses, such applications in New Zealand are relatively limited. This report presents revised findings from the social scientific component of a Foundation of Research, Science and Technology (FRST) funded project that is examining how to increase energy use from New Zealand’s low temperature geothermal resources. Specifically, this updated report (see Doody & Becker, 2010) presents revised survey results based on the analysis of the combined data from the first and second mail outs of the questionnaire survey.
The main aim of our social research was to gain an understanding of the social and cultural factors that will influence the acceptance and use of these resources in residential households. To achieve this we identified four associated objectives: 1. To obtain an appreciation of people’s energy uses, demands and needs; 2. To examine people’s knowledge about and understanding of New Zealand’s energy environment; 3. To gain an insight into people’s understanding of, and views on, low temperature geothermal resources; 4. To attempt to understand how people may be encouraged to adopt low temperature geothermal resources in residential.
Examining the potential uses of low-temperature geothermal resources we identified groundsource heat pumps (GSHPs) as the application with the most potential for residential houses. As a result we focused our research on the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. We used a mixed method approach which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted from March to April 2009 in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Following this a questionnaire survey was constructed and delivered in September 2009 to 3500 random residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. A second mail out of the survey to the same addresses took place in March 2010. In total, 716 questionnaires were returned partially or fully completed. The interviews and questionnaires examined residential householder’s views and practices in relation to a number of areas including: energy, power and appliances in the home; home heating and cooling practices and decisions; energyefficient options in the home; sources of information about heating and cooling; adopting new heating/cooling technologies in the home; and thoughts about energy, alternative forms of energy, and geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results show New Zealand households typically use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms (most commonly the lounge and dining room) in the house. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. This suggests that in attempting to encourage people to adopt technologies that utilise low-temperature geothermal resources it is critical to recognise that it is inextricably a social process.
In general, people appear to have a reasonable understanding of the resources used to generate energy at either a regional or national scale. Much of the discussion about New Zealand’s current and future energy resources focused on the types of energy that should be used, the cost and pricing of electricity, and the management of the electricity sector to ensure that energy resources are used wisely and efficiently. People were particularly supportive of renewable resources (hydro, wind and geothermal), less supportive of nonrenewable resources (coal and oil) and very unsupportive of nuclear power. The common perception was that non-renewable resources and nuclear power currently have and will continue to have more of a negative environmental impact than renewable resources.
People are fairly knowledgeable and aware of the characteristics, location and uses of high temperature geothermal (>150ºC) resources in New Zealand. Geothermal resources are typically associated with heat and steam that originates naturally from the ground or earth. These resources are believed to be located in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions and are mainly associated with Rotorua and Taupo. Generating power, tourism, bathing, swimming and cooking are considered to be the main uses. In contrast, there was less awareness about low temperature resources. The main associations with these resources were again with steam and hot springs that were from the ground or earth. There was some awareness of ground-source heat pumps but few were familiar with domestic applications of low temperature resources such as for space heating, heat pumps and space cooling.
There are five main implications arising from this research for increasing the development and use of low temperature geothermal resources in New Zealand: 1. Efforts to increase the use of geothermal resources will likely receive public support although the extent of this support will be influenced by the scale, nature and location of these projects; 2. Efforts to increase the awareness of builders, architects, developers and residential planners of potential applications using these resources would be beneficial as they are in a position to help encourage their utilisation; 3. Attempts to raise public awareness need to be made relevant and meaningful to people; 4. A number of approaches should be used for public awareness campaigns including websites, advertising and television programmes. In our view, a pilot scheme in a residential context utilising low-temperature resources would be particularly valuable; 5. Policies, subsidies and incentives need to be carefully considered to make sure they increase the financial viability of projects for residential householders and developers and ensure high-quality of both the units and installation.households.
Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of habitat. Small remnants that ... more Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of habitat. Small remnants that still exist in numerous cities will be unable to sustain many viable wild plant populations if they do not expand into the surrounding urban matrix. Residential gardens form a significant component of urban green space in many cities and therefore could play a role in redressing this problem. Our ecological and social scientific study examined factors influencing the dispersal and regeneration of 12 bird-dispersed native woody species from Riccarton Bush, a 7.8 ha urban forest remnant, into surrounding residential properties in Christchurch, New Zealand. Over 125 years, the reported number of native vascular plant species in the Bush has declined by a third. Some species, particularly Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, the dominant woody species in the Bush, are being dispersed by birds and establishing in residential gardens predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. This suggests natural potential for regeneration exists but is insufficient without active human intervention. Our survey results show people are supportive of native plants in general but lack knowledge of the species. They are willing to plant locally appropriate woody species if provided with plants, information, and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. Residential gardens consequently have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of urban biodiversity especially for species suited to the functions and size of gardens.
Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge... more Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge. Agencies and organisations have promoted various policies and programmes to address these matters including retrofitting insulation and the installation of energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies. Such initiatives could be enhanced through a more thorough understanding of how such technologies correspond to people’s everyday lives. We argue that the way in which people respond to these and other initiatives are mediated by their personal and familial needs and desires, as well as, broader social, political and economic factors.
Our social scientific study examined the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with residents in their homes in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Subsequently a quantitative questionnaire survey was developed and delivered to 3500 residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. This research is part of a multidisciplinary GNS Science project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The project is aimed at helping to facilitate the development and utilisation of low-temperature (150ºC) geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results of the study show typical New Zealand households use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms in the house. The lounge is most commonly heated, although some households (particularly those occupied by young families and elderly residents) heat bedrooms in the interest of maintaining their health and wellbeing. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. In concluding we argue that it is critical to recognise that improving the sustainability and performance of existing houses and buildings is inextricably a social process.
Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of natural habitat. Small remnan... more Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of natural habitat. Small remnants that still exist in numerous cities will be unable to sustain many viable wild plant populations if they do not expand into the surrounding urban matrix. Residential gardens surrounding such remnants, and which form a significant component of urban green space in many cities, could play a role in redressing this problem. Riccarton Bush, a 7.8 hectare forest remnant, and its surrounding suburban residential area, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a good example. Over 125 years the reported number of native vascular plants in the bush has declined by a third. My study was an attempt to understand: 1) the ecological, social and cultural factors influencing the dispersal and regeneration of 12 native bird-dispersed woody species from Riccarton Bush, into surrounding residential properties; and 2) the potential role residential properties could play in the future of the bush. To examine these diverse factors I adopted an interdisciplinary research approach combining methodologies, concepts and theories from ecology and the social sciences. In a broader context my work was an attempt to demonstrate how urban ecology can further develop and strengthen by adopting and integrating new methodologies, theories and concepts.
The ecological component involved recording individuals of the study species found on 90 randomly selected properties within a 1.4 km radius of the bush. Soil samples were also collected from 31 of those properties and placed in a glasshouse and the study species that germinated were recorded. Results showed some species, particularly kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), the most abundant species in the bush, are being dispersed and establishing on properties predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. Qualitative interviews with 16 residents and a quantitative survey of the residents of 85 of the properties provided insights into the social context which these natural processes were operating.
Using notions of place and performance I argue that gardens are continuously created and recreated by humans and non-humans. Residents attempt to create and maintain a garden that fulfils their individual and familial needs and desires (e.g., aesthetics, leisure and privacy), and public responsibilities such as ensuring they have a ‘neat’ and ‘tidy’ garden. This involves selecting plants for colour, shape and the care they require, and encouraging certain performances (e.g., flowering) while controlling other undesirable plants and performances (e.g. growth, spread and shading). While people make connections between native plants, belonging and identity; the ‘scientific’ demarcation between native and exotic species often becomes obscured as the garden is co-created by people and plants. Some plants become more significant than others but usually this is attributable to their performances rather than whether they are native or exotic.
Residential gardens have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of species restricted to urban remnants. My research suggests that although the potential exists for woody species restricted to Riccarton Bush to naturally regenerate in nearby gardens, this will not happen without human intervention. Plants will need to be eco-sourced and propagated to avoid detrimental impacts on the genetic health of remnant populations, and then actively planted in gardens. The success of such planting initiatives will be increased by providing residents with information about the plants that are suitable for their performative needs and desires (e.g., the size, colour, and maintenance requirements of plants) and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. In concluding, I argue that by adopting new concepts, theories and methodologies, the productivity, creativity and relevance of urban ecology can be significantly enhanced.
The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, an... more The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, and the foreshore in particular. Despite this policy activity, little is known about the public’s views on their access rights. A survey of 300 Christchurch residents examined respondents’ use of, and need for, access to the foreshore, their knowledge of foreshore access rights, and opinions about selected access policy proposals. Results show that respondents highly value the foreshore for recreational purposes and expect to be able to go there without charge. Most believe the foreshore should be in public ownership. Knowledge of access rights was found to be low, suggesting policy should place emphasis on improving public knowledge and awareness about access to existing recreational resources rather than increasing the extent of the accessible resource. General support was given for a range of land access policy proposals, including greater portrayal of access information on maps and on-site access signposting; however, the likely effectiveness of such proposals is less certain.
A study was undertaken to review international literature pertaining to people's behavior in and ... more A study was undertaken to review international literature pertaining to people's behavior in and around floodwater. The review focused on people's voluntary entry of floodwater. From the literature, five predominant reasons for entering floodwater were identified, including undertaking a recreational activity; attempting to reach a destination; retrieving property, livestock, or pets; undertaking employment duties; and rescuing or assisting with evacuation. Two primary influences on entering floodwater were found, namely risk perception (i.e., being unaware of or underestimating the risk from flooding) and social influences (i.e., being influenced by others). Demographics and environmental and temporal factors also played a part in decisionmaking about whether to enter floodwater or not. Emergency managers should take account of such factors when devising future public education strategies. Further research, including comparisons with current theoretical models, could help identify additional influences on decision-making for floodwater entry.
Building on research into flash flood fatalities, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NS... more Building on research into flash flood fatalities, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) recently funded a literature review (through the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program) exploring pedestrian and motorist safety during floods. The review looked at risk perception, the influence of warning systems, human behaviour, the activities undertaken, and the characteristics and motivations of people who died as a result of entering floodwater. The research also looked at strategies used in Australia and internationally to promote appropriate behaviour around floodwater. In Australia, 206 flash flooding fatalities occurred between 1950 and 2008. Sixty-one percent of flash flood fatalities in this period were known to be transport related (vehicle, pedestrian and other modes). People also died as a result of wading, swimming, recreating, rescuing others, evacuating too late (fleeing), retrieving property, and copy-cat behaviour. Current research suggests that the predominant motivating reason for people to enter floodwater is that people are attempting to reach a particular destination in the course of their normal everyday routines such as travelling to and from work and picking up and dropping children off at school. Strategies and activities used within Australia and internationally may provide new ideas and approaches to improve pedestrian and motorist safety in floods.
Vehicle fleets are considered an important context for the deployment of innovations such as elec... more Vehicle fleets are considered an important context for the deployment of innovations such as electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Fleet vehicles constitute a significant share of vehicle registrations, yet little research has been conducted into how the make-up of the changing fleet market could influence upscaling of innovations. This paper presents an in-depth study of the fleet market in the United Kingdom and assesses synergies between V2G and vehicle fleets by analysing socio-technical trends. The approach taken allows for analysing the role of users and markets in upscaling sociotechnical transitions. The paper provides a system-level account of the fleet market, and shows how changing user characteristics, the rise of telematics, Low Emission Zones and changes to business operations and labour relations present specific drivers and challenges for V2G. It is concluded that userrelated changes in the market environment are highly influential in shaping the upscaling trajectory of sustainable innovations such as V2G.
This paper investigates why material throughput remains high in the UK automotive industry when t... more This paper investigates why material throughput remains high in the UK automotive industry when there are opportunities for material efficiency improvements. Informed by socio-technical studies of automobility, the paper emphasises the importance of recognising how decisions regarding material use are always shaped by more than simply cost considerations. Drawing on industry interviews, six interconnected socio-technical factors are identified that guide the vehicle design and manufacturing process. These are: (1) customer preferences; (2) market positioning; (3) techno-economic feasibility; (4) supply chain feasibility; (5) regulation and (6) organisational attributes. These factors can provide insights into the current operating context of the UK automotive industry and help explain why the average material intensity of vehicles and vehicle throughput are increasing. Overall, the paper shows that the efficiency of material use in the UK automotive industry is the outcome of complex and advanced design and manufacturing processes. Understanding these processes and the factors that guide them can potentially increase the likelihood of the automotive industry adopting material efficiency initiatives.
Cities across the global are looking for structural systemic solutions to mobility related proble... more Cities across the global are looking for structural systemic solutions to mobility related problems such as congestion, pollution, and lack of (public) space. Electrification seems to accelerate and address (local) environmental problems, but not necessarily contributes to just mobility by opening up public space, creating broader access to mobility and supporting health. In this paper we describe an experimental transition governance process in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in the context of the local climate agreement. It used transition governance to explore how the social, cultural, institutional and technological changes needed to achieve a just and sustainable mobility future could be accelerated. The politically supported but informal governance process mobilized publicprivate-civil networks of actors in the context of the local climate agreement to co-create a transition strategy based on zero-emissions, social and shared mobility in 2030, aiming for all vehicles left to be shared and free from tailpipe emissions. It accelerated a number of debates, actions and changes in the city and pushed local policies to further prioritize walking, cycling, sharing and public transport. Its ambitions have helped shape current formal urban spatial and mobility policies and institutional experimentation in the city, accelerated during the COVID pandemic.
Car sharing could support a transition away from private vehicle ownership and use. Attempts to u... more Car sharing could support a transition away from private vehicle ownership and use. Attempts to understand participation in car sharing have primarily focused on minor and major disruptions which catalyse change in practices. This paper examines how processes of entering, continuing or exiting car sharing systems unfold in Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. Car sharing is conceptualised as an arrangement of elements assembled, adjusted and supported by events, practices and habits. Drawing on biographically-oriented household interviews, we build on and extend existing understandings of change and stability in car sharing in four ways. First, by focusing on households rather than individual users, the paper complements recent attempts to understand the decoupling of family and private-car-based mobility. Second, under-examined processes of exiting, alongside entry and continuation are considered. Third, it highlights the importance of recognising more imperceptible, gradual and continuous changes which might not necessarily coincide with a disruptive event. Fourth, habits of shared car arrangements are demonstrated to be fragile and not as deeply ingrained as those associated with ownership. Existing household practices and habits thus raise further questions about the potential for shared mobility services to disrupt the primacy of the car.
Everyday (im)mobilities continuously emerge out of dynamic interactions between bodies, objects a... more Everyday (im)mobilities continuously emerge out of dynamic interactions between bodies, objects and environments. Demonstrating the importance of past behaviours, life course and context, mobility biographies research has supplemented and advanced previous understandings of the factors which sustain and transform everyday mobilities. Despite this, its empirical and theoretical scope remains limited. The primary focus on certain life stages and key events as triggers of change in long-term travel behaviour has meant the effects of small-scale, short-term and multi-directional changes have largely been overlooked or ignored. I argue this failure is in part due to prevailing conceptions of experience, habit and environment. Engaging primarily with John Dewey's writings and empirical materials generated with New Zealand migrants in London, I demonstrate how experience and habit can instead be understood as dynamic, relational and temporal processes. These New Zealanders, like other migrants, are shown to occupy multiple subject positions between, and experience complex dislocations and engagements with the practicalities of, places of departure and settlement. Their accounts help to foreground how events and happenings that continuously unfold in the everyday lives of migrants and non-migrants are undergone, negotiated, contested and fraught with uncertainty, innovation and ambivalence. Stretching across time and space, the cumulative, reinforcing and transformative effects of these processes do not coincide with pre-defined events but nonetheless change how movement, dwelling and subjectivities are differentially experienced and embodied.
In conjunction with the Australian-based Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technolog... more In conjunction with the Australian-based Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC), GNS Science is undertaking preliminary assessments of New Zealand’s sedimentary basins to evaluate their potential viability for the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). The capture and geological storage of CO2 is one of the most promising options for significantly reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions from major point sources such as electricity generating power stations and industrial processing sites. The Wanganui Basin, located on and about the southwest coast of North Island, is examined here as part of this New Zealand regional assessment project (Project 37 of the CO2CRC Regional Studies research portfolio). This report provides a preliminary assessment of CO2 storage opportunities in Wanganui Basin based on existing data. It aims to identify geological formations that offer storage potential and to define general areas with sufficient potential to conduct more ...
The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is interested in understanding how communit... more The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is interested in understanding how communities perceive flood hazards, how this affects their behaviour in terms of preparedness and response, and how this links with the development of education and communication strategies. To understand such aspects better, NSW SES has commissioned a series of research projects focussed on flooding in at-risk communities. Surveys using postal questionnaires were conducted in 2005 and 2007 to collect data on flood perceptions, preparedness, and warnings in the communities of Grafton, Narrabri, Albury and Maitland in New South Wales, Australia. Following the surveys, a series of focus groups was run to explore residents’ attitudes towards, and understanding of, flood risk and preparedness in the same four communities. The focus groups were held the week of 25-29 May 2009 in Grafton and Narrabri, and the week of 22-26 June 2009 in Albury and Maitland. Focus group sessions were semi-structured wit...
ABSTRACT Risk assessment is likely to be an important part of future CO2 sequestration projects i... more ABSTRACT Risk assessment is likely to be an important part of future CO2 sequestration projects in New Zealand. Although the global CO2 sequestration risk assessment community may be moving towards a common best-practice, neither a standard approach nor consistent views have yet been reached for risk assessment of carbon, capture and storage projects. This diversity of opinion arises in part because for many storage projects presently under consideration the risk assessment is focussed on containment where the probability of catastrophic leakage has been determined to be extremely low. These low probabilities, together with a general acceptance that appropriate uncertainties are not always well constrained (particularly for reservoir and seal flow properties), has lead some to question the utility of risk assessment. The purpose of this report is to outline the risk assessment methods best suited to potential future CO2 sequestration projects in New Zealand and to recommend tasks that, if completed, would either reduce the risk or enable the likelihood of these risks to be constrained better. To achieve these primary objectives we assembled a team from multiple organisations (GNS Science, Monitor Scientific, CRL Energy and University of NSW) with expertise in risk assessment, CO2 sequestration, geology, engineering, social science and economics. This report is the culmination of a review of existing methods, two risk workshops and a series of meeting between members of the team. The report sets the foundation for risk assessment of potential future carbon, capture and storage projects in New Zealand, outlining a series of practical steps that we believe are necessary to maximise the utility of risk assessment. (auth/DG)
Private domestic gardens have been the site of diverse inquiry in both the social and natural sci... more Private domestic gardens have been the site of diverse inquiry in both the social and natural sciences. Intersected by these inquiries this paper focuses on how ‘weeds’ are (re)constituted through gardening practices in domestic gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand. The paper arises out of an interdisciplinary ecological and social scientific study of the factors influencing the distribution and regeneration of 12 bird-dispersed native woody species from Riccarton Bush, an urban forest remnant of significant ecological rarity, into surrounding residential properties. As part of this study we were especially interested in how people’s everyday experiences and encounters in their gardens guide their gardening practices and what possibilities, if any, these create for self-introduced native seedlings to establish, and mature into adults. Drawing inspiration from literatures on human–plant relations we use the concepts of performance, non-human and ‘planty’ agencies to argue that weeds are performed by people and plants rather than having a pre-determined or pre-figured meaning. Empirically the paper seeks to highlight the diverse, unique and disruptive agencies of plants. Methodologically it reflects on ways of engaging with and researching human–plant relations. In concluding, the paper examines how concepts of performance, non-human and planty agencies can provide insights for weed management and urban plant conservation.
The 'Degrees of Possibility: Igniting Social Knowledge around Climate Change Workshop Report' was... more The 'Degrees of Possibility: Igniting Social Knowledge around Climate Change Workshop Report' was completed in June 2011. Authored by Karen Cronin, Brendan Doody and Alison Greenaway it also includes key contributions from Richard Le Heron, Janet Bornman, Matthew Henry, Amanda Wolf and Nick Lewis. The report presents a unique New Zealand take on the current state of social knowledge around climate change, highlights key questions that need to be addressed and potential processes for future engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The report provides a background to the workshop, summaries of the keynote presentations and a record of the ideas developed in the discussion groups and observations of the day. It also includes a summary of ideas for social research and suggests an approach for integrating social science into the wider research agenda on climate change.
Low temperature geothermal resources are various forms of heat energy, generally less than 150ºC,... more Low temperature geothermal resources are various forms of heat energy, generally less than 150ºC, drawn directly from the ground. Although worldwide there are a number of direct uses of these resources including space heating, bathing, domestic heat pumps, and heating greenhouses, such applications in New Zealand are relatively limited. This report presents revised findings from the social scientific component of a Foundation of Research, Science and Technology (FRST) funded project that is examining how to increase energy use from New Zealand’s low temperature geothermal resources. Specifically, this updated report (see Doody & Becker, 2010) presents revised survey results based on the analysis of the combined data from the first and second mail outs of the questionnaire survey.
The main aim of our social research was to gain an understanding of the social and cultural factors that will influence the acceptance and use of these resources in residential households. To achieve this we identified four associated objectives: 1. To obtain an appreciation of people’s energy uses, demands and needs; 2. To examine people’s knowledge about and understanding of New Zealand’s energy environment; 3. To gain an insight into people’s understanding of, and views on, low temperature geothermal resources; 4. To attempt to understand how people may be encouraged to adopt low temperature geothermal resources in residential.
Examining the potential uses of low-temperature geothermal resources we identified groundsource heat pumps (GSHPs) as the application with the most potential for residential houses. As a result we focused our research on the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. We used a mixed method approach which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted from March to April 2009 in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Following this a questionnaire survey was constructed and delivered in September 2009 to 3500 random residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. A second mail out of the survey to the same addresses took place in March 2010. In total, 716 questionnaires were returned partially or fully completed. The interviews and questionnaires examined residential householder’s views and practices in relation to a number of areas including: energy, power and appliances in the home; home heating and cooling practices and decisions; energyefficient options in the home; sources of information about heating and cooling; adopting new heating/cooling technologies in the home; and thoughts about energy, alternative forms of energy, and geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results show New Zealand households typically use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms (most commonly the lounge and dining room) in the house. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. This suggests that in attempting to encourage people to adopt technologies that utilise low-temperature geothermal resources it is critical to recognise that it is inextricably a social process.
In general, people appear to have a reasonable understanding of the resources used to generate energy at either a regional or national scale. Much of the discussion about New Zealand’s current and future energy resources focused on the types of energy that should be used, the cost and pricing of electricity, and the management of the electricity sector to ensure that energy resources are used wisely and efficiently. People were particularly supportive of renewable resources (hydro, wind and geothermal), less supportive of nonrenewable resources (coal and oil) and very unsupportive of nuclear power. The common perception was that non-renewable resources and nuclear power currently have and will continue to have more of a negative environmental impact than renewable resources.
People are fairly knowledgeable and aware of the characteristics, location and uses of high temperature geothermal (>150ºC) resources in New Zealand. Geothermal resources are typically associated with heat and steam that originates naturally from the ground or earth. These resources are believed to be located in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions and are mainly associated with Rotorua and Taupo. Generating power, tourism, bathing, swimming and cooking are considered to be the main uses. In contrast, there was less awareness about low temperature resources. The main associations with these resources were again with steam and hot springs that were from the ground or earth. There was some awareness of ground-source heat pumps but few were familiar with domestic applications of low temperature resources such as for space heating, heat pumps and space cooling.
There are five main implications arising from this research for increasing the development and use of low temperature geothermal resources in New Zealand: 1. Efforts to increase the use of geothermal resources will likely receive public support although the extent of this support will be influenced by the scale, nature and location of these projects; 2. Efforts to increase the awareness of builders, architects, developers and residential planners of potential applications using these resources would be beneficial as they are in a position to help encourage their utilisation; 3. Attempts to raise public awareness need to be made relevant and meaningful to people; 4. A number of approaches should be used for public awareness campaigns including websites, advertising and television programmes. In our view, a pilot scheme in a residential context utilising low-temperature resources would be particularly valuable; 5. Policies, subsidies and incentives need to be carefully considered to make sure they increase the financial viability of projects for residential householders and developers and ensure high-quality of both the units and installation.households.
Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of habitat. Small remnants that ... more Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of habitat. Small remnants that still exist in numerous cities will be unable to sustain many viable wild plant populations if they do not expand into the surrounding urban matrix. Residential gardens form a significant component of urban green space in many cities and therefore could play a role in redressing this problem. Our ecological and social scientific study examined factors influencing the dispersal and regeneration of 12 bird-dispersed native woody species from Riccarton Bush, a 7.8 ha urban forest remnant, into surrounding residential properties in Christchurch, New Zealand. Over 125 years, the reported number of native vascular plant species in the Bush has declined by a third. Some species, particularly Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, the dominant woody species in the Bush, are being dispersed by birds and establishing in residential gardens predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. This suggests natural potential for regeneration exists but is insufficient without active human intervention. Our survey results show people are supportive of native plants in general but lack knowledge of the species. They are willing to plant locally appropriate woody species if provided with plants, information, and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. Residential gardens consequently have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of urban biodiversity especially for species suited to the functions and size of gardens.
Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge... more Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge. Agencies and organisations have promoted various policies and programmes to address these matters including retrofitting insulation and the installation of energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies. Such initiatives could be enhanced through a more thorough understanding of how such technologies correspond to people’s everyday lives. We argue that the way in which people respond to these and other initiatives are mediated by their personal and familial needs and desires, as well as, broader social, political and economic factors.
Our social scientific study examined the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with residents in their homes in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Subsequently a quantitative questionnaire survey was developed and delivered to 3500 residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. This research is part of a multidisciplinary GNS Science project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The project is aimed at helping to facilitate the development and utilisation of low-temperature (150ºC) geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results of the study show typical New Zealand households use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms in the house. The lounge is most commonly heated, although some households (particularly those occupied by young families and elderly residents) heat bedrooms in the interest of maintaining their health and wellbeing. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. In concluding we argue that it is critical to recognise that improving the sustainability and performance of existing houses and buildings is inextricably a social process.
Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of natural habitat. Small remnan... more Urbanization has destroyed and fragmented previously large areas of natural habitat. Small remnants that still exist in numerous cities will be unable to sustain many viable wild plant populations if they do not expand into the surrounding urban matrix. Residential gardens surrounding such remnants, and which form a significant component of urban green space in many cities, could play a role in redressing this problem. Riccarton Bush, a 7.8 hectare forest remnant, and its surrounding suburban residential area, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a good example. Over 125 years the reported number of native vascular plants in the bush has declined by a third. My study was an attempt to understand: 1) the ecological, social and cultural factors influencing the dispersal and regeneration of 12 native bird-dispersed woody species from Riccarton Bush, into surrounding residential properties; and 2) the potential role residential properties could play in the future of the bush. To examine these diverse factors I adopted an interdisciplinary research approach combining methodologies, concepts and theories from ecology and the social sciences. In a broader context my work was an attempt to demonstrate how urban ecology can further develop and strengthen by adopting and integrating new methodologies, theories and concepts.
The ecological component involved recording individuals of the study species found on 90 randomly selected properties within a 1.4 km radius of the bush. Soil samples were also collected from 31 of those properties and placed in a glasshouse and the study species that germinated were recorded. Results showed some species, particularly kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), the most abundant species in the bush, are being dispersed and establishing on properties predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. Qualitative interviews with 16 residents and a quantitative survey of the residents of 85 of the properties provided insights into the social context which these natural processes were operating.
Using notions of place and performance I argue that gardens are continuously created and recreated by humans and non-humans. Residents attempt to create and maintain a garden that fulfils their individual and familial needs and desires (e.g., aesthetics, leisure and privacy), and public responsibilities such as ensuring they have a ‘neat’ and ‘tidy’ garden. This involves selecting plants for colour, shape and the care they require, and encouraging certain performances (e.g., flowering) while controlling other undesirable plants and performances (e.g. growth, spread and shading). While people make connections between native plants, belonging and identity; the ‘scientific’ demarcation between native and exotic species often becomes obscured as the garden is co-created by people and plants. Some plants become more significant than others but usually this is attributable to their performances rather than whether they are native or exotic.
Residential gardens have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of species restricted to urban remnants. My research suggests that although the potential exists for woody species restricted to Riccarton Bush to naturally regenerate in nearby gardens, this will not happen without human intervention. Plants will need to be eco-sourced and propagated to avoid detrimental impacts on the genetic health of remnant populations, and then actively planted in gardens. The success of such planting initiatives will be increased by providing residents with information about the plants that are suitable for their performative needs and desires (e.g., the size, colour, and maintenance requirements of plants) and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. In concluding, I argue that by adopting new concepts, theories and methodologies, the productivity, creativity and relevance of urban ecology can be significantly enhanced.
The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, an... more The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, and the foreshore in particular. Despite this policy activity, little is known about the public’s views on their access rights. A survey of 300 Christchurch residents examined respondents’ use of, and need for, access to the foreshore, their knowledge of foreshore access rights, and opinions about selected access policy proposals. Results show that respondents highly value the foreshore for recreational purposes and expect to be able to go there without charge. Most believe the foreshore should be in public ownership. Knowledge of access rights was found to be low, suggesting policy should place emphasis on improving public knowledge and awareness about access to existing recreational resources rather than increasing the extent of the accessible resource. General support was given for a range of land access policy proposals, including greater portrayal of access information on maps and on-site access signposting; however, the likely effectiveness of such proposals is less certain.
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Papers by Brendan Doody
The report provides a background to the workshop, summaries of the keynote presentations and a record of the ideas developed in the discussion groups and observations of the day. It also includes a summary of ideas for social research and suggests an approach for integrating social science into the wider research agenda on climate change.
The main aim of our social research was to gain an understanding of the social and cultural factors that will influence the acceptance and use of these resources in residential households. To achieve this we identified four associated objectives:
1. To obtain an appreciation of people’s energy uses, demands and needs;
2. To examine people’s knowledge about and understanding of New Zealand’s energy environment;
3. To gain an insight into people’s understanding of, and views on, low temperature geothermal resources;
4. To attempt to understand how people may be encouraged to adopt low temperature geothermal resources in residential.
Examining the potential uses of low-temperature geothermal resources we identified groundsource heat pumps (GSHPs) as the application with the most potential for residential houses. As a result we focused our research on the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. We used a mixed method approach which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted from March to April 2009 in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Following this a questionnaire survey was constructed and delivered in September 2009 to 3500 random residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. A second mail out of the survey to the same addresses took place in March 2010. In total, 716 questionnaires were returned partially or fully completed. The interviews and questionnaires examined residential householder’s views and practices in relation to a number of areas including: energy, power and appliances in the home; home heating and cooling practices and decisions; energyefficient options in the home; sources of information about heating and cooling; adopting new heating/cooling technologies in the home; and thoughts about energy, alternative forms of energy, and geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results show New Zealand households typically use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms (most commonly the lounge and dining room) in the house. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. This suggests that in attempting to encourage people to adopt technologies that utilise low-temperature geothermal resources it is critical to recognise that it is inextricably a social process.
In general, people appear to have a reasonable understanding of the resources used to generate energy at either a regional or national scale. Much of the discussion about New Zealand’s current and future energy resources focused on the types of energy that should be used, the cost and pricing of electricity, and the management of the electricity sector to ensure that energy resources are used wisely and efficiently. People were particularly supportive of renewable resources (hydro, wind and geothermal), less supportive of nonrenewable resources (coal and oil) and very unsupportive of nuclear power. The common perception was that non-renewable resources and nuclear power currently have and will continue to have more of a negative environmental impact than renewable resources.
People are fairly knowledgeable and aware of the characteristics, location and uses of high temperature geothermal (>150ºC) resources in New Zealand. Geothermal resources are typically associated with heat and steam that originates naturally from the ground or earth. These resources are believed to be located in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions and are mainly associated with Rotorua and Taupo. Generating power, tourism, bathing, swimming and cooking are considered to be the main uses. In contrast, there was less awareness about low temperature resources. The main associations with these resources were again with steam and hot springs that were from the ground or earth. There was some awareness of ground-source heat pumps but few were familiar with domestic applications of low temperature resources such as for space heating, heat pumps and space cooling.
There are five main implications arising from this research for increasing the development and use of low temperature geothermal resources in New Zealand:
1. Efforts to increase the use of geothermal resources will likely receive public support although the extent of this support will be influenced by the scale, nature and location of these projects;
2. Efforts to increase the awareness of builders, architects, developers and residential planners of potential applications using these resources would be beneficial as they are in a position to help encourage their utilisation;
3. Attempts to raise public awareness need to be made relevant and meaningful to people;
4. A number of approaches should be used for public awareness campaigns including websites, advertising and television programmes. In our view, a pilot scheme in a residential context utilising low-temperature resources would be particularly valuable;
5. Policies, subsidies and incentives need to be carefully considered to make sure they increase the financial viability of projects for residential householders and developers and ensure high-quality of both the units and installation.households.
Our social scientific study examined the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with residents in their homes in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Subsequently a quantitative questionnaire survey was developed and delivered to 3500 residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. This research is part of a multidisciplinary GNS Science project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The project is aimed at helping to facilitate the development and utilisation of low-temperature (150ºC) geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results of the study show typical New Zealand households use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms in the house. The lounge is most commonly heated, although some households (particularly those occupied by young families and elderly residents) heat bedrooms in the interest of maintaining their health and wellbeing. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. In concluding we argue that it is critical to recognise that improving the sustainability and performance of existing houses and buildings is inextricably a social process.
The ecological component involved recording individuals of the study species found on 90 randomly selected properties within a 1.4 km radius of the bush. Soil samples were also collected from 31 of those properties and placed in a glasshouse and the study species that germinated were recorded. Results showed some species, particularly kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), the most abundant species in the bush, are being dispersed and establishing on properties predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. Qualitative interviews with 16 residents and a quantitative survey of the residents of 85 of the properties provided insights into the social context which these natural processes were operating.
Using notions of place and performance I argue that gardens are continuously created and recreated by humans and non-humans. Residents attempt to create and maintain a garden that fulfils their individual and familial needs and desires (e.g., aesthetics, leisure and privacy), and public responsibilities such as ensuring they have a ‘neat’ and ‘tidy’ garden. This involves selecting plants for colour, shape and the care they require, and encouraging certain performances (e.g., flowering) while controlling other undesirable plants and performances (e.g. growth, spread and shading). While people make connections between native plants, belonging and identity; the ‘scientific’ demarcation between native and exotic species often becomes obscured as the garden is co-created by people and plants. Some plants become more significant than others but usually this is attributable to their performances rather than whether they are native or exotic.
Residential gardens have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of species restricted to urban remnants. My research suggests that although the potential exists for woody species restricted to Riccarton Bush to naturally regenerate in nearby gardens, this will not happen without human intervention. Plants will need to be eco-sourced and propagated to avoid detrimental impacts on the genetic health of remnant populations, and then actively planted in gardens. The success of such planting initiatives will be increased by providing residents with information about the plants that are suitable for their performative needs and desires (e.g., the size, colour, and maintenance requirements of plants) and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. In concluding, I argue that by adopting new concepts, theories and methodologies, the productivity, creativity and relevance of urban ecology can be significantly enhanced.
The report provides a background to the workshop, summaries of the keynote presentations and a record of the ideas developed in the discussion groups and observations of the day. It also includes a summary of ideas for social research and suggests an approach for integrating social science into the wider research agenda on climate change.
The main aim of our social research was to gain an understanding of the social and cultural factors that will influence the acceptance and use of these resources in residential households. To achieve this we identified four associated objectives:
1. To obtain an appreciation of people’s energy uses, demands and needs;
2. To examine people’s knowledge about and understanding of New Zealand’s energy environment;
3. To gain an insight into people’s understanding of, and views on, low temperature geothermal resources;
4. To attempt to understand how people may be encouraged to adopt low temperature geothermal resources in residential.
Examining the potential uses of low-temperature geothermal resources we identified groundsource heat pumps (GSHPs) as the application with the most potential for residential houses. As a result we focused our research on the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. We used a mixed method approach which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted from March to April 2009 in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Following this a questionnaire survey was constructed and delivered in September 2009 to 3500 random residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. A second mail out of the survey to the same addresses took place in March 2010. In total, 716 questionnaires were returned partially or fully completed. The interviews and questionnaires examined residential householder’s views and practices in relation to a number of areas including: energy, power and appliances in the home; home heating and cooling practices and decisions; energyefficient options in the home; sources of information about heating and cooling; adopting new heating/cooling technologies in the home; and thoughts about energy, alternative forms of energy, and geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results show New Zealand households typically use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms (most commonly the lounge and dining room) in the house. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. This suggests that in attempting to encourage people to adopt technologies that utilise low-temperature geothermal resources it is critical to recognise that it is inextricably a social process.
In general, people appear to have a reasonable understanding of the resources used to generate energy at either a regional or national scale. Much of the discussion about New Zealand’s current and future energy resources focused on the types of energy that should be used, the cost and pricing of electricity, and the management of the electricity sector to ensure that energy resources are used wisely and efficiently. People were particularly supportive of renewable resources (hydro, wind and geothermal), less supportive of nonrenewable resources (coal and oil) and very unsupportive of nuclear power. The common perception was that non-renewable resources and nuclear power currently have and will continue to have more of a negative environmental impact than renewable resources.
People are fairly knowledgeable and aware of the characteristics, location and uses of high temperature geothermal (>150ºC) resources in New Zealand. Geothermal resources are typically associated with heat and steam that originates naturally from the ground or earth. These resources are believed to be located in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions and are mainly associated with Rotorua and Taupo. Generating power, tourism, bathing, swimming and cooking are considered to be the main uses. In contrast, there was less awareness about low temperature resources. The main associations with these resources were again with steam and hot springs that were from the ground or earth. There was some awareness of ground-source heat pumps but few were familiar with domestic applications of low temperature resources such as for space heating, heat pumps and space cooling.
There are five main implications arising from this research for increasing the development and use of low temperature geothermal resources in New Zealand:
1. Efforts to increase the use of geothermal resources will likely receive public support although the extent of this support will be influenced by the scale, nature and location of these projects;
2. Efforts to increase the awareness of builders, architects, developers and residential planners of potential applications using these resources would be beneficial as they are in a position to help encourage their utilisation;
3. Attempts to raise public awareness need to be made relevant and meaningful to people;
4. A number of approaches should be used for public awareness campaigns including websites, advertising and television programmes. In our view, a pilot scheme in a residential context utilising low-temperature resources would be particularly valuable;
5. Policies, subsidies and incentives need to be carefully considered to make sure they increase the financial viability of projects for residential householders and developers and ensure high-quality of both the units and installation.households.
Our social scientific study examined the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with residents in their homes in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Subsequently a quantitative questionnaire survey was developed and delivered to 3500 residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. This research is part of a multidisciplinary GNS Science project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The project is aimed at helping to facilitate the development and utilisation of low-temperature (150ºC) geothermal resources in New Zealand.
Results of the study show typical New Zealand households use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms in the house. The lounge is most commonly heated, although some households (particularly those occupied by young families and elderly residents) heat bedrooms in the interest of maintaining their health and wellbeing. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. In concluding we argue that it is critical to recognise that improving the sustainability and performance of existing houses and buildings is inextricably a social process.
The ecological component involved recording individuals of the study species found on 90 randomly selected properties within a 1.4 km radius of the bush. Soil samples were also collected from 31 of those properties and placed in a glasshouse and the study species that germinated were recorded. Results showed some species, particularly kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), the most abundant species in the bush, are being dispersed and establishing on properties predominantly within 250 m of the forest margin. These juveniles are not reaching maturity as most gardeners tend to remove all non-planted woody species. Qualitative interviews with 16 residents and a quantitative survey of the residents of 85 of the properties provided insights into the social context which these natural processes were operating.
Using notions of place and performance I argue that gardens are continuously created and recreated by humans and non-humans. Residents attempt to create and maintain a garden that fulfils their individual and familial needs and desires (e.g., aesthetics, leisure and privacy), and public responsibilities such as ensuring they have a ‘neat’ and ‘tidy’ garden. This involves selecting plants for colour, shape and the care they require, and encouraging certain performances (e.g., flowering) while controlling other undesirable plants and performances (e.g. growth, spread and shading). While people make connections between native plants, belonging and identity; the ‘scientific’ demarcation between native and exotic species often becomes obscured as the garden is co-created by people and plants. Some plants become more significant than others but usually this is attributable to their performances rather than whether they are native or exotic.
Residential gardens have the potential to play a major role in the conservation of species restricted to urban remnants. My research suggests that although the potential exists for woody species restricted to Riccarton Bush to naturally regenerate in nearby gardens, this will not happen without human intervention. Plants will need to be eco-sourced and propagated to avoid detrimental impacts on the genetic health of remnant populations, and then actively planted in gardens. The success of such planting initiatives will be increased by providing residents with information about the plants that are suitable for their performative needs and desires (e.g., the size, colour, and maintenance requirements of plants) and, most importantly, control over the location of plantings. In concluding, I argue that by adopting new concepts, theories and methodologies, the productivity, creativity and relevance of urban ecology can be significantly enhanced.