Theme and objectives

Together with participants, we aim to:

• learn more about what characterizes energy citizenship in rural areas and how rural communities can be supported and empowered in their local energy transition pathways; and
• explore the relationship between energy citizenship and the building environment in rural settings by testing how experimental architecture can contribute to the energy transition.

To do so, the Norwegian Citizen Action Lab will focus on how alternative solutions to living arrangements can foster energy citizenship in rural areas, both for first and second homes.

The Norway Citizen Action Lab will be held in two different locations, Overhalla and Oppdal. In both cases, the aim is to work at the community level with a focus on the rural aspects of energy citizenship. We will start in Overhalla by involving young professionals to discuss their approaches, aspirations, and thoughts regarding energy citizenship in their homes, workplace and different social life’s spaces.

We will identify areas of change and involve them in a “design & build workshop” to try out new spaces and places as joint solutions supporting the local energy transition. In Oppdal, we will examine the second home phenomenon. We will involve second homeowners and other relevant local stakeholders to gain insights into how energy citizenship differs between a primary and secondary home.

For whom is it relevant – Potential participants

Local citizens, young professionals, second homeowners, public servants and policymakers, industry parks, local SMEs and research- partners

Main topics of discussion

• Energy in daily life in rural settings (home, work and leisure/social life): Participants’ energy-related perceptions, practices and needs.

• Energy in visions for the future: Participants’ future-oriented visions of what a good life may consist of and the energy-related aspects of it.

• The relationship between local building environments and rural energy-related practices: affordances and constraints and use data of alternative community and household solutions for energy citizens.

Practical information

We work with participative experimental architecture – ie. a micro-house – in two different rural contexts. Data will be collected through the process including participation, interviews, focus groups and surveys.

Event 1: Dialogue Workshop 1, group interview of young professionals at Skogmo Industry Park.

Event 2: Co-design an intervention with the local group.

Event 3: Invite to test-live a microhouse locally in Overhalla.

Event 4: Build a local intervention to establish a new public social space.

Event 5: Reflect and discuss with participants the role of energy citizenship, evaluation of projects and pinpointing future work.

At Oppdal:

Event 1: Recruitment workshop – Second home owners

Event 2: Microhouse sensor project at local makerspace

Event 3: Test-habitation: Microhouse as a cabin

Event 4: TBD

Co-organizers and other partners

Research Team:

NTNU and NSR

Implementation Partners:

Skogmo Industry Park ,Overhalla Nasjonalparken Industry Park, and Oppdal and Overhalla local goverments

Stakeholder groups involved:

In Overhalla, we will work together with young professionals. We are particularly interested in getting female and immigrant young professionals involved.

In Oppdal, participants will comprise second-home owners and users, local entrepreneurs, and residents.

Disclaimer

The Citizen Action Lab has been registered in the Norwegian Centre for Research Data (NSD). The Citizen Action Lab will follow Norwegian and international standards on research ethics, and data management and protection. Participants will be asked to sign data processing consent forms in advance.