Approximating flexibility of social practices in a household setting

Abstract

We aim to gain understanding in the factors that influence the daily pattern of social practices in a household setting. Studies suggest that household water and electricity use are generated by the interactions of the occupants within the infrastructure of the home. These patterns are often interlocked and difficult to understand. Learning which factors influence this interlocked pattern of practices can help understand how to shift everyday practices to be more sustainable. In this thesis, a simulation was developed that approximates the flexibility of these social practice patterns. The simulation uses agent-based modeling to simulate a negotiation protocol. Scheduling techniques were used to build the daily interlocked patterns. The simulation was used to examine the influence of schedule tightness and occupant flexibility on the interlocked patterns. It was found that the occupant flexibility seems to not influence negotiation at all and in general tighter schedules do not require more complex negotiation. Morning and midday tasks often did not require any negotiation, thus the tightness and flexibility did not have a significant influence in these events. However, households with a slightly busier schedule were more likely to require negotiation when modifying evening tasks. This is due to the local tightness during the evenings. The results suggest that shifting towards more sustainable living is not constrained by schedule tightness or the willingness of people to change.