Watson, M. orcid.org/0000-0003-2817-6676 and Shove, E. (2023) How infrastructures and practices shape each other: aggregation, integration and the introduction of gas central heating. Sociological Research Online, 28 (2). pp. 373-388. ISSN 1360-7804
Abstract
We know that networked infrastructures enable forms of mobility, energy use, and flows of data, and we know that modern life depends on these arrangements. We also know that relations between infrastructures and social practices are recursive, extensive, and multiple. But what of the detail? How do infrastructures shape the many practices to which they relate, and vice versa? The research we describe was designed to address these questions head on. We discuss the arrival and normalisation of gas central heating with reference to householders’ experiences and practices and to the ambitions and decisions of utilities and city authorities. In the process, we identify forms of aggregation and of integration on which infrastructure – practice dynamics depend. In taking this approach, we demonstrate the relevance of practice theory for conceptualising and analysing ‘large’ social phenomena including transitions in energy systems and related patterns of demand.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). |
Keywords: | aggregation; energy demand; infrastructure; integration; social practice |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Geography (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/K011723/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 07 Feb 2022 12:23 |
Last Modified: | 26 Jun 2024 10:21 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/13607804211055495 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:183302 |