Residents go through several steps towards a natural gas-free home. We call this the customer journey to gas-free living. In the study 'Natural gas free living: the resident determines' an analysis was made of the drivers and barriers experienced by homeowners in the various steps towards a natural gas free home. Residents are at different stages of the customer journey. They may get stuck at each step if there is not enough incentive to move to the next step. The distribution of drivers and barriers for the different steps provides clues about the type of information and support residents need.
Name of Method
Brief description
Residents go through several steps towards a natural gas-free home. We call this the customer journey to gas-free living. In the study 'Natural gas free living: the resident determines' an analysis was made of the drivers and barriers experienced by homeowners in the various steps towards a natural gas free home. Residents are at different stages of the customer journey. They may get stuck at each step if there is not enough incentive to move to the next step. The distribution of drivers and barriers for the different steps provides clues about the type of information and support residents need.
Type/Level of Method
Challenges
The distribution of drivers and barriers for the different steps of the customer journey towards natural gas-free homes provides clues about the type of information and support residents need. This methode has been recognized within the Netherlands as valuable resource for stakeholders that normally do not, or have difficulties to, reason from the perspective of citizens or residents with whom they
work in different projects.
Problem, Purpose and Needs
According to the government of the Netherlands, all Dutch homes must be natural gas-free by 2050. (Rijksoverheid, 2019). The aim, as set out in the coalition agreement, is to make 200,000 homes natural gas-free every year from 2021 onwards. (VVD, CDA, D66 en ChristenUnie, 2017). This calls for changes to the supply of renewable energy, infrastructure, the heating system in the home and the insulation of the home. In addition to these technical aspects, it also leads to social issues relating to cost distribution and freedom of choice. A successful neighbourhood approach requires these issues to be tackled in a well-coordinated way.
Because residents are key to a successful neighbourhood approach, the drivers, values and resistance factors which are important to them must be clear, as well as how these can be linked to the neighbourhood approach. In other words: how do you generate enthusiasm about switching from natural gas to another form of heating?
Relevance to Climate Neutrality
Challenges
Thematic Areas
Impact Goals
Issue Complexity
Issue Polarisation
Enabling Condition
Essential Considerations for Commissioning Authorities
Engagement Journey
Governance Models and Approaches
Enabling Conditions
Democratic Purpose
Spectrum of participation
Communication Channels
Actors and Stakeholder Relationships
Participant Numbers
Actors and Stakeholders
Participant Recruitment
Interaction between participants
Format
Social Innovation Development Stage
Scope
Time commitment
Resources and Investments
Typical duration
Resources and Investments
In-house
Step by Step
Research
- Interviews with residents
- Streetinterview with the Babbelboom. The Babbelboom (‘Chatter Tree’) is a tree (a pole with leaves attached) which residents can talk to. Attached to the pole is a sign saying “I'm curious about you. Have you warmed up to NATURAL GAS-FREE?” Next to the tree is an employee who asks residents to have a conversation with the Babbelboom. Stood at a distance, not visible to the participant, there is a second employee who is conducting the conversation. The Babbelboom has been used to enable residents to speak easily and anonymously about the drivers and barriers they experience in the transition to natural gas-free.
- Conversations with employees of the municipality
Analysing the results
Evaluation
Connecting Methods
It is combined with De Energieke gemeente (see description of this method.)
Flexibility and Adaptability
Qualitative research has to be executed. The exact form (interviews, street interviews, etc) can be defined depending on the specific context.
Existing Guidelines and Best Practice
The method has to be applied by social scientists.
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