The Integration of Energy Conservation into the Political Goal of Renewable Energy Self-Sufficiency—A German Case Study Based on a Longitudinal Reconstruction
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Starting Point of Our Research
2.1. Energy Conservation as a (Former Missing) Element in Regional and Local Energy Concepts
2.2. What Contributes to Energy Conservation and How Can it be Promoted?
2.3. Conclusions for Our Research Questions and Research Approach
- (1) Why has the issue of energy conservation been integrated into the local energy strategy in order to reach RESS?
- (2) How do the involved actors conceptualize “energy conservation”? Why do they do so in this way? What corresponding goals in the municipality are connected to energy conservation? And, what types of approaches are used to meet these goals?
- (3) How is the ability to act among actors involved in the process of change obtained?
3. Research Methodology and Research Design
3.1. The Case
“The municipality sets the goal by 2020 to reach energy self-sufficiency, based on renewable energies and reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50% (…) Main attention in this context is paid to the electrical energy production, energy conservation and heat production.”([36], p.1).
3.2. Data Collection and Process of Analysis
4. Case History: Why and How is the Issue of Energy Conservation Integrated into the Local RESS-Strategy?
4.1. The Ballot Initiative: Campaigning for a New Orientation in Local Policy and Politics
4.2. Beginning RE Production and Use
4.3. Emergence of RESS and Energy Conservation as Political Goals and Their Role in the Municipal’s Development Strategy
4.3.1. Aiming at RESS and Integrating the Population
4.3.2. Basing the Municipality’s Marketing Strategy on the Topic of Energy
4.4. RESS and Energy Conservation in the Electricity and Traffic Sector
4.5.1. The Airport
4.5.2. The New Road
4.5.3. The New City Hall
4.5.4. The Food-Discounter
5. Case Study Results
5.1. The Developed Framework
5.2. Emergence of Two Parallel Branches of Economic Development
6. Discussion
6.1. The Developments under the Lens of a “Post-Growth-Society”
6.2. Conclusions for Research on Energy Conservation in the Context of Proposed RESS on a Local Level
7. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Conflict of Interest
References
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Stablo, J.; Ruppert-Winkel, C. The Integration of Energy Conservation into the Political Goal of Renewable Energy Self-Sufficiency—A German Case Study Based on a Longitudinal Reconstruction. Sustainability 2012, 4, 888-916. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4050888
Stablo J, Ruppert-Winkel C. The Integration of Energy Conservation into the Political Goal of Renewable Energy Self-Sufficiency—A German Case Study Based on a Longitudinal Reconstruction. Sustainability. 2012; 4(5):888-916. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4050888
Chicago/Turabian StyleStablo, Järmo, and Chantal Ruppert-Winkel. 2012. "The Integration of Energy Conservation into the Political Goal of Renewable Energy Self-Sufficiency—A German Case Study Based on a Longitudinal Reconstruction" Sustainability 4, no. 5: 888-916. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4050888