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Get bill smart: A community partnership approach to supporting low-income households to achieve home energy savings
Citation
Watson, P and Gabriel, MB and Rooney, M, Get bill smart: A community partnership approach to supporting low-income households to achieve home energy savings, Indoor and Built Environment, 24, (7) pp. 867-877. ISSN 1423-0070 (2015) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright The Author(s) 2015
DOI: doi:10.1177/1420326X15591637
Abstract
In this paper, we report on early findings from a low-income energy efficiency programme, get bill smart
(GBS). The project trials a community-partnership approach to supporting low-income households to
pursue energy savings and comfort improvements in their home. In our discussion, we examine the role
of community action in facilitating improvements to the indoor built environment. Here, we reflect on the
challenges and opportunities that have arisen in seeking to build community-capacity in a disadvantaged
community. We observe that: the project design was effective in facilitating local ownership; its
objectives did align with local priorities; and there was some translation of energy saving messages.
However, challenges were encountered with facilitating the emergence of leadership and an ongoing
community network around affordable warmth and energy use. While a temporary network has
emerged through the delivery of GBS, early insights from the project indicate that, on balance, there
are more inhibitors rather than facilitators of this outcome within the neighbourhood. Tipping this balance
may require further investment and support beyond the project parameters.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Sociology |
Research Field: | Urban sociology and community studies |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Ethics |
Objective Field: | Social ethics |
UTAS Author: | Watson, P (Dr Phillipa Watson) |
UTAS Author: | Gabriel, MB (Dr Michelle Gabriel) |
UTAS Author: | Rooney, M (Dr Millie Rooney) |
ID Code: | 105829 |
Year Published: | 2015 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 2 |
Deposited By: | School of Social Sciences |
Deposited On: | 2016-01-15 |
Last Modified: | 2016-11-10 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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