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| | = <span lang="en-CA">Overview</span><br/> = | | = <span lang="en-CA">Overview</span><br/> = |
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| − | <span lang="en-CA">The intent of this is to explore the perspective of (potential) users of decentralized energy systems. Moving beyond economic feasibility, the presenter will try to illustrate how values, attitudes, specific needs and experiences are linked to why and how certain decentralized energy systems are successful.</span> | + | <span lang="en-CA">The intent of this is to explore the perspective of (potential) users of decentralized energy systems. Moving beyond economic feasibility, illustration of how values, attitudes, specific needs and experiences are linked to why and how certain decentralized energy systems are successful.</span> |
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| | = <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Consumers' Perception of Photovoltaic(PV) Systems<ref name="Marco Sonnberger, ZIRIUS, University of Stuttgart">Marco Sonnberger, ZIRIUS, University of Stuttgart</ref></span><br/> = | | = <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Consumers' Perception of Photovoltaic(PV) Systems<ref name="Marco Sonnberger, ZIRIUS, University of Stuttgart">Marco Sonnberger, ZIRIUS, University of Stuttgart</ref></span><br/> = |
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| − | <span lang="en-CA">The following summarizes the presentation and the proceeding interactive session from the session on February 28th, 2013:</span>
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| | == <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Research Purpose</span><br/> == | | == <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Research Purpose</span><br/> == |
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| | <span lang="en-CA">The purpose of the research presented is to empirically investigate the individual mental models involved in the decision making process involved in purchasing a PV system. Specifically, the research explores significant motives the motivate people to purchase a PV system. Within this context, 'mental models' represent an individuals cognitive representations of specific concepts and their relationships about a particular attributes such as attitudes, emotions, symbols, actions, and other values. 'Mental models' also guide every day decisions and provide explanations for individual behaviour.</span> | | <span lang="en-CA">The purpose of the research presented is to empirically investigate the individual mental models involved in the decision making process involved in purchasing a PV system. Specifically, the research explores significant motives the motivate people to purchase a PV system. Within this context, 'mental models' represent an individuals cognitive representations of specific concepts and their relationships about a particular attributes such as attitudes, emotions, symbols, actions, and other values. 'Mental models' also guide every day decisions and provide explanations for individual behaviour.</span> |
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| | == <span lang="en-CA">Theoretical Concepts</span><br/> == | | == <span lang="en-CA">Theoretical Concepts</span><br/> == |
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| | <span lang="en-CA">Also incorporated into the research analysis is 'The Means-End Chain Theory' by Jonathon Gutman from 1982. The theory evaluates relations that link attributes to consequences, and subsequently values.</span> | | <span lang="en-CA">Also incorporated into the research analysis is 'The Means-End Chain Theory' by Jonathon Gutman from 1982. The theory evaluates relations that link attributes to consequences, and subsequently values.</span> |
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| | == <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Samples & Methods</span><br/> == | | == <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Samples & Methods</span><br/> == |
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| | <span lang="en-CA">The research sample was comprised of 17 semi-structured interviews or roughly 60 minutes each. A method used in the sampling was the laddering technique which allowed researchers to ask open ended 'why' questions. Subsequently, the interview transcripts were evaluated for their qualitative content. The sampling also took into account different attributes and characteristics of interviewees to provide a range of information.</span> | | <span lang="en-CA">The research sample was comprised of 17 semi-structured interviews or roughly 60 minutes each. A method used in the sampling was the laddering technique which allowed researchers to ask open ended 'why' questions. Subsequently, the interview transcripts were evaluated for their qualitative content. The sampling also took into account different attributes and characteristics of interviewees to provide a range of information.</span> |
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| − | == <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Findings</span><br/> ==
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| − | <span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-style: normal">The results generated two principal mental models: Economically Dominated and Ecologically Dominated. The afore</span></span><span lang="en-CA">mentioned models were subsequently compiled into an aggregated model. The information that was analysed through the process demonstrated that there are different types of consumers with complex motivational structures that go beyond environmental consciousness and pure economic utility maximization. External factors such as polices and societal discourses may affect different consumers in different ways. It may be less fruitful to call upon consumer consciousness and more effective to affect the different desired consequences. For example, motivating consumers with the positive outcomes such as social recognition or participation in the Energiewende (German Energy Transition Initiative). In addition to profit maximization and amortization of investments, other motivations found in the research are socially driven. Beyond investigating PV systems, this research is potentially applicable to other micro energy systems.</span>
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| − | <br/> | + | == <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Findings</span><br/> == |
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| − | = <span lang="en-CA"></span><span lang="en-CA">Interactive Group Sessions</span><br/> =
| + | <span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-style: normal"><u>The results generated two principal mental models:</u></span></span> |
| | + | #<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-style: normal">Economically Dominated</span></span> |
| | + | #<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-style: normal">Ecologically Dominated</span></span> |
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| − | <span lang="en-CA">As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into three groups of roughly 8 to 12 people. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of </span><span lang="en-CA">''Users Perspectives''</span><span lang="en-CA">. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: </span><span lang="en-CA">''Technology & Region, Experiences''</span><span lang="en-CA">and </span><span lang="en-CA">''Further Research Questions.''</span><span lang="en-CA">The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.</span> | + | <span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-style: normal">The afore</span></span><span lang="en-CA">mentioned models were subsequently compiled into an aggregated model. The information that was analysed through the process demonstrated that there are different types of consumers with complex motivational structures that go beyond environmental consciousness and pure economic utility maximization. External factors such as polices and societal discourses may affect different consumers in different ways. It may be less fruitful to call upon consumer consciousness and more effective to affect the different desired consequences. For example, motivating consumers with the positive outcomes such as social recognition or participation in the Energiewende (German Energy Transition Initiative). In addition to profit maximization and amortization of investments, other motivations found in the research are socially driven. Beyond investigating PV systems, this research is potentially applicable to other micro energy systems.</span> |
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| − | == <span lang="en-CA">Technology & Region</span><br/> == | + | == <span lang="en-CA">Technology & Region</span><ref name="As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into groups. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of Users Perspectives. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: Technology & Region, Experiencesand Further Research Questions.The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.">As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into groups. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of Users Perspectives. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: Technology & Region, Experiencesand Further Research Questions.The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.</ref><br/> == |
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| | *<span lang="en-CA">Researchers should strive to understand the formation and social practices prior to implementation as a part of the research process.</span> | | *<span lang="en-CA">Researchers should strive to understand the formation and social practices prior to implementation as a part of the research process.</span> |
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| − | == <span lang="en-CA">Experiences & Lessons Learned</span><br/> == | + | == <span lang="en-CA">Experiences & Lessons Learned</span><ref name="As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into groups. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of Users Perspectives. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: Technology & Region, Experiencesand Further Research Questions.The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.">As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into groups. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of Users Perspectives. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: Technology & Region, Experiencesand Further Research Questions.The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.</ref><br/> == |
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| | *<span lang="en-CA">Ordinary development projects do not have the time to genuinely address community needs or foster community participation. There are limitations and also an aspect of arrogance in focussing merely on 'basic need.' Perhaps 'users perspectives' could be an 'add on' in project design.</span> | | *<span lang="en-CA">Ordinary development projects do not have the time to genuinely address community needs or foster community participation. There are limitations and also an aspect of arrogance in focussing merely on 'basic need.' Perhaps 'users perspectives' could be an 'add on' in project design.</span> |
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| − | == <span lang="en-CA">Further Research Questions & Objectives</span><br/> == | + | == <span lang="en-CA">Further Research Questions & Objectives</span><ref name="As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into groups. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of Users Perspectives. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: Technology & Region, Experiencesand Further Research Questions.The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.">As part of the session, participants were encouraged to split up into groups. The group settings provided a smaller context in which participants could use knowledge, experiences and new learning from the session to discuss the general theme of Users Perspectives. Three general headings were posted as starting points for discussion: Technology & Region, Experiencesand Further Research Questions.The following summarizes the proceeding discussions, and is loosely organized for ease in reading an understanding.</ref><br/> == |
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| | *<span lang="en-CA">More attention could also be directed toward 'modern' methods of analysing user behaviours and perspectives. For example with maps, and observation, etc.</span> | | *<span lang="en-CA">More attention could also be directed toward 'modern' methods of analysing user behaviours and perspectives. For example with maps, and observation, etc.</span> |
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| | + | = References = |
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| | + | The article documents the proceedings of the session “Users' Perspectives" of the international conference [[Micro Perspectives for Decentralized Energy Supply|“Micro Perspectives for Decentralized Energy Supply”]], February 27 - March 1, 2013.<br/> |
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| − | = References = | + | <u><span lang="en-CA">The following Photopresentations from the program did not actually occur (the corresponding papers are included in the MES 2013 Proceedings, available at [http://www.microenergysystems.tu-berlin.de/conference/mes-2013/ http://www.microenergysystems.tu-berlin.de/conference/mes-2013/]):</span></u><br/> |
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| − | The article documents the proceedings of the session “Users' Perspectives" of the international conference [[Micro Perspectives for Decentralized Energy Supply|“Micro Perspectives for Decentralized Energy Supply”]], February 27 - March 1, 2013.<br/><br/>
| + | <span lang="en-CA">1) </span><span lang="en-CA">Patrick Devine-Wright & Wendy Wrapson</span><span lang="en-CA">: 'Home is Where the Hearth is? Focal Points of Heat, Low Carbon Heating and Domestic Thermal Experience',</span><span lang="en-CA">University of Exeter, UK</span> |
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| | + | <span lang="en-CA">2) </span><span lang="en-CA">Jenny Rinkinen</span><span lang="en-CA">: 'Disruption and Change? Understanding Transitions to Decentralised Energy Supply in Finland through Power Cuts',</span><span lang="en-CA">Aalto University School of Business, Finland</span> |
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| | <references /><br/> | | <references /><br/> |
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| | [[Category:Photovoltaic]] | | [[Category:Photovoltaic]] |
| | + | [[Category:Users Perspectives]] |
