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Short abstract:

Citizens are expected to make a significant contribution to achieve sustainability goals, others experience energy poverty. I explore how creative and inclusive participatory citizen activities can empower citizens to share their perspectives with their municipalities and support them saving energy.

Long abstract:

During the panel I would like to share my experiences from my research project Sustainable Neighborhoods (in the Netherlands) in which we develop creative and inclusive participatory methods to engage citizens in energy transition discussions. Through inclusive research and participatory activities and technology, we support less engaged and vulnerable residents in adopting sustainability behavior and implementing sustainability measures. Next to citizen activities, we co-design technical inventions (i.e. an easy-in-use and entertaining energy-feedback monitor). I am particularly interested to share and explore other creative ideas to support inclusive citizen engagement and how those methods can be applied in a multi-stakeholder context.

Examples of our citizen activities:

1.Wishing tree and free fries on the street:

The wish tree was deployed to stimulate discussion among residents about their dreams and visions for a sustainable future. We asked children to draw ideas a more climate adaptive (and fun!) neighborhood and put them on a washing line. We rented a French fries car and gave away free fries as a conversation starter and attention-grabber, while talking with adults about their experiences with energy-saving measures for their homes.

2. Emotion networking:

To explore the emotions of citizens in relation to a heating grid in their neighborhood and their feelings towards the municipality, we organized an emotion network workshop with citizens and representatives of the involved organizations and municipality. Citizens were asked to (re)place playing pieces on a fabric, showing a range of emotions from mild to strong and positive to negative while talking to the representatives.