Energy, Emerging Technologies and Gender in Homes – Call for papers
The special issue aims to improve understanding regarding the gendered diversity and effects in the development of, and experiences with, emerging technologies of relevance to energy in homes. The issue will provide critical advice for key stakeholders such as policy makers, regulators, planners, technologists, designers and housing developers for future gender-inclusive energy technologies and approaches which work in everyday life.
For this special issue, issues of concern include household interactions and relationships with energy or smart technologies, as well as experiences with a broad range of emerging technologies — such as consumer electronics, robotics and automation — and how these shape and are shaped by gender in ways that affect energy outcomes. We are interested in contributions that address gendered visions, experiences and outcomes with a wide variety of emerging technologies including:
- Smart home devices: broadly encompassing smart appliances, thermostats, digital voice assistants, consumer electronics, home robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and other automated home technologies
- Energy technologies: e.g. solar PV, batteries, electric vehicles, microgrids, and virtual power plants
- Other technologies having potential energy implications e.g. augmented /virtual reality, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, autonomous vehicles, pay-as-you-go energy purchasing via mobile phone (common in the Global South).
The special issue also explores the impact of gender on realising policy, regulatory and building efficiency aspirations. Set against broader political agendas and imaginaries for Big Tech, decarbonisation and energy reform, emerging technologies are often considered key enablers of future visions for low-carbon futures. Yet questions about whose futures are being enabled and imagined, or who is doing the work to enable them, are left unanswered (Aagaard 2021; Jasanoff 2015; Sovacool 2019). Insufficient attention to gender and socio-cultural dynamics may undermine the green and just transition of the energy system.
Deadline for abstracts: 07 SEPTEMBER 2021
Download a pdf CFP-Energy-tech-gender
Read more about this call by visiting the Buildings & Cities website here.