User Perspectives in Housing: The Relevance of ‘Habitus’

Abstract

The paper explores the relevance of the concept of habitus in understanding energy use in housing and its implications for sustainable planning. While national carbon reduction targets in the UK have stimulated extensive research on low-energy housing, the author argues that qualitative, interpretative approaches are crucial for comprehending how people live in and adapt to such homes. Habitus provides a framework for bridging methodological divides—individual versus societal, qualitative versus quantitative—by focusing on consumption practices and the novelty of sustainable homes. The study highlights how carbon reduction goals necessitate new relationships between occupants and their dwellings, requiring behavioural changes and strategies to promote sustainable consumption alongside sustainable development.