Paper short abstract:

Our interdisciplinary paper examines the interplay of oral histories, a network of appointed artists and public conversations in researching just heating transitions in a European context as part of the JUSTHEAT project.

Paper long abstract:

The decarbonisation of domestic heating is a key component of the transition to more sustainable societies. This transition is not only a switch from one technology to another, instead it also encompasses far-reaching changes to personal lifestyles as well as practices and understandings of energy use. Capturing this thematically rich transition requires interdisciplinary and multi-method research approaches.

By integrating social sciences, building sciences, and the fine arts, our research crosses disciplinary and methodological boundaries and probes deeply into the realm of domestic heating and its associated practices and themes. We collect an extensive set of oral histories as primary data set to capture personal narratives of past domestic heating transitions in four European countries. In addition, the inclusion of local artists in each case study location enriches data collection and analysis and also fosters the engagement with local communities and policy makers. Using diverse disciplinary and methodological perspectives supports a rich understanding of past transitions that in turn also supports enabling just and equitable future heating transitions.

We will reflect on the value of our interdisciplinary and multi-method research approach in facilitating just heating transitions and in supporting engagement with communities and policy makers. We will also share challenges we have encountered as well as best practices to meet them to contribute to support future interdisciplinary and multi-method approaches in energy studies.