Considering user behaviour in life cycle assessments of smart energy technologies - a review of approaches, implications and their effects on research results

Abstract

To measure and quantify environmental impacts of products and technologies the methodology of life cycle assessment (LCA) is a well-established tool, that has also been used on several smart technologies. Even though there is a high degree of standardisation concerning the LCA methodology, yet it appears that the consideration of the use phase of technologies can pose a challenge. Due to the lack of standards, practitioners often have to rely on own decision making, that may lead to simplifications or assumption-based considerations. Whilst these approaches can be quite sufficient for some products, we argue that especially for digital/smart devices and technologies that rely on the usage of energy (especially those aiming at altering the behaviour of their users) a deeper understanding of e.g. use patterns, different life/consumption styles within environmental technology assessment is needed. In order to address how and which user behaviour aspects could and should be considered in environmental assessments like LCAs, we conducted a systematic literature review. Since technologies like smart meters or whole and smart homes are supposed to play a key role in the energy transition process over the next years, we focus especially on smart devices. The review therefore includes an analysis of behaviour considerations in LCA studies on the one hand and case studies on the usage behaviour of smart appliances from the social sciences on the other, contrasting them in a second step. Our contribution to the conference will therefore include insights on the different understandings of ‘user behaviour’ in the diverse research fields, focussing on the different approaches in the social and the engineering/natural sciences.