Yang, G;
Hitchings, R;
Lotti, L;
Shipworth, M;
(2022)
Understanding the social norms of cooling in Chinese offices: Predominance, professionalism, and peer respect.
Energy Research and Social Science
, 94
, Article 102861. 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102861.
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Abstract
Challenging the international spread of highly energy-consuming air-conditioning technologies, this research explores how cooling demand is supported by the local emergence of relevant social norms. This paper presents the results of an interview study focused on the cooling norms currently found inside corporate offices in two large cities in southern China. Building on existing, mostly quantitative, studies of office cooling in areas of China with hot summers, and with a focus on how social norms shape everyday actions, the accounts of 17 financial sector workers are examined through a thematic analysis. Three themes are discussed: how air conditioning was perceived to dominate, how expectations concerning professional self-image were negotiated, and how respect for colleagues at different levels influenced personal cooling in the workplace. Together they point to the potential of novel strategies for promoting more sustainable office cooling in China and suggest the value of further research on dynamic cooling norms.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Understanding the social norms of cooling in Chinese offices: Predominance, professionalism, and peer respect |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102861 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102861 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. under a Creative Commons license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Office cooling, Social norms, Energy consumption, Financial employees, Interviews,China |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10160252 |
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