Energy-related logics of action throughout the ages in France: historical milestones, stages of life and intergenerational transmissions

Abstract

Energy use is a very important question nowadays in the context of global warming and the cost of energy. “Energy conservation” is paradoxal: environmental awareness is increasing, but so is energy demand. Sociological knowledge concerning energy uses and energy savings remain important to understand the possible evolution of practices and values and thus possible future energy policies. Can the “consumer society” become a “less energy-intensive” society? This paper’s purpose was to understand how individuals, at each stage of life, in the context of historic events and intra-familial relationships, build a specific relationship to energy and “energy care” (paying attention to energy) and a specific appropriation of public policies, energy-efficient technologies and environmental discourses. The notion of “logics of action” provides a way to combine the analysis of historical events and the analysis of daily practices, integrating the way people act, the justification of actions and the dynamics of life course stages. The social age approach has policy implications, for example, helping to segment people’s profiles and to tailor the tools to age groups. The paper also questions the fact that some policies focus on children to transmit their messages. This paper is based on the analysis of several qualitative studies in various age groups of French people.