A qualitative assessment of the impact of smart homes and environmentally beneficial technologies on the UK 2050 net-zero carbon emission target

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghasson Shabha ◽  
Francesca Barber ◽  
Paul Laycock
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Smart Homes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology

PurposeThere are 29 million homes in the UK, accounting for 14% of the UK's energy consumption. This is given that UK has one of the highest water and energy demands in Europe which needs to be addressed according to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Smart homes technology holds a current perception that it is principally used by “tech-savvy” users with larger budgets. However, smart home technology can be used to control water, heat and energy in the entire house. This paper investigates how smart home technology could be effectively utilised to aid the UK government in meeting climate change targets and to mitigate the environmental impact of a home in use towards reducing carbon emissions.Design/methodology/approachBoth primary and secondary data were sought to gain insight into the research problem. An epistemological approach to this research is to use interpretivism to analyse data gathered via a semi-structured survey. Two groups of participants were approached: (1) professionals who are deemed knowledgeable about smart home development and implementation and (2) users of smart home technology. A variety of open-ended questions were formulated, allowing participants to elaborate by exploring issues and providing detailed qualitative responses based on their experience in this area which were interpreted quantitatively for clearer analysis.FindingsWith fossil fuel reserves depleting, there is an urgency for renewable, low carbon energy sources to reduce the 5 tonnes annual carbon emissions from a UK household. This requires a multi-faceted and a multimethod approach, relying on the involvement of both the general public and the government in order to be effective. By advancing energy grids to make them more efficient and reliable, concomitant necessitates a drastic change in the way of life and philosophy of homeowners when contemplating a reduction of carbon emissions. If both parties are able to do so, the UK is more likely to reach its 2050 net-zero carbon goal. The presence of a smart meter within the household is equally pivotal. It has a positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions and hence more need to be installed.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed using a larger study sample to achieve more accurate and acceptable generalisations about any future course of action. Further investigation on the specifics of smart technology within the UK household is also needed to reduce the energy consumption in order to meet net-zero carbon 2050 targets due to failures of legislation.Practical implicationsFor smart homes manufacturers and suppliers, more emphasis should be placed to enhance compatibility and interoperability of appliances and devices using different platform and creating more user's friendly manuals supported by step-by-step visual to support homeowners in the light of the wealth of knowledge base generated over the past few years. For homeowners, more emphasis should be placed on creating online knowledge management platform easily accessible which provide virtual support and technical advice to home owners to deal with any operational and technical issues or IT glitches. Developing technical design online platform for built environment professionals on incorporating smart sensors and environmentally beneficial technology during early design and construction stages towards achieving low to zero carbon homes.Originality/valueThis paper bridges a significant gap in the body of knowledge in term of its scope, theoretical validity and practical applicability, highlighting the impact of using smart home technology on the environment. It provides an insight into how the UK government could utilise smart home technology in order to reduce its carbon emission by identifying the potential link between using smart home technology and environmental sustainability in tackling and mitigating climate change. The findings can be applied to other building types and has the potential to employ aspects of smart home technology in order to manage energy and water usage including but not limited to healthcare, commercial and industrial buildings.

scholarly journals Smart Homes: Steps, Components, Utilities and Challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.7) ◽  
pp. 436
Author(s):  
Velivela Gopinath ◽  
Arigela Srija ◽  
Dr S Krishna Rao ◽  
Avula Madhuri
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Homes ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Home Networking ◽  
Intelligent Home ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology

Smart Home is a flourishing technology of 20th century. It integrates of many new technologies through home networking for improving quality of human’s life. Intelligent Home trade has drawn goodish attention of researchers for quite a decade. Smart Home technology is a combination of network and services and much more consequently, this paper focuses on various topics in smart home technologies from surveying for smart home research projects and presents a survey of all such systems and covers advantages of smart home systems, smart steps and simple components to install smart homes. So, the presented paper can be cookbook of ideas for who ever want to learn this blossoming technology.  

scholarly journals Review on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Smart Homes

Smart Cities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Guo ◽  
Zhenjiang Shen ◽  
Yajing Zhang ◽  
Teng Wu
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Smart Homes ◽  
Product Reviews ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Quality Of Living ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology ◽  
The Relationship

Smart home and artificial intelligence technologies are developing rapidly, and various smart home products associated with artificial intelligence (AI) improved the quality of living for occupants. Although some studies discussed the application of artificial intelligence in smart homes, few publications fully considered the integration of literature and products. In this paper, we aim to answer the research questions of “what is the trend of smart home technology and products” and “what is the relationship between literature and products in smart homes with AI”. Literature reviews and product reviews are given to define the functions and roles of artificial intelligence in smart homes. We determined the application status of artificial intelligence in smart home products and how it is utilized in our house so that we could understand how artificial intelligence is used to make smart homes. Furthermore, our results revealed that there is a delay between literature and products, and smart home intelligent interactions will become more and more popular.

International carbon transition debates to intensify

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Coal Production ◽  
International Labour Organisation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

Subject Carbon transitions. Significance The EU in May failed to reach an agreement on how to achieve a long-term strategy on reducing carbon emissions. One of the issues underlying the persistent differences among member states was the question of how to achieve a ‘just transition’. This is becoming an increasingly significant element of national and international debates on tackling climate change. Impacts The International Labour Organisation believes a transition limiting heat rises to 2 degrees by 2030 would create 24 million jobs globally. Global coal production may stabilise as reductions in developed economies are offset by increases in Asia. The UK Treasury estimates that achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 will cost 1 trillion pounds (1.26 trillion dollars).

scholarly journals Lowering the Carbon Emissions Peak and Accelerating the Transition Towards Net Zero Carbon

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150013
Author(s):  
PAN Jiahua
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Quality Development ◽  
Ecological Civilization ◽  
High Quality ◽  
New Era ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Carbon

China’s declaration to the international community to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 is of great significance in advancing the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and has a positive and far-reaching impact on China’s high-quality development. This paper expounds on responsibilities and ambitions in tackling climate change, analyzes the high-quality development opportunities brought about by CO2 emissions peak and carbon neutrality, and discusses the net zero carbon emissions transformation in the new era of ecological civilization. This paper is of the view that development towards net zero carbon emissions provides a new impetus for building a Beautiful China, and promoting ecological civilization and green development. The essence of carbon neutrality should be correctly understood so that the world will work together to improve climate resilience. China should also deepen the understanding of the principles and methodologies of climate change economics.

Unlocking the smart home: exploring key factors affecting the smart lock adoption intention

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav Mamonov ◽  
Raquel Benbunan-Fich
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Salient Beliefs ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology ◽  
Adoption Intention

PurposeThis study examines the factorial structure of salient user beliefs associated with smart locks. We also examine the predictive value of the identified constructs on the smart lock adoption intention and we evaluate gender differences in the predictive value of the identified constructs.Design/methodology/approachThe study assumes pragmatic epistemological stance and it leverages mixed-methods research design. The research progresses through three stages: belief elicitation, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis within a nomological network. New groups of participants were recruited for each stage of the study.FindingsWe find that while potential adopters express a broad range of perceived benefits and concerns associated with smart locks, only the perceived relative advantage of smart locks vis-à-vis conventional locks in providing safety and security is significantly correlated with adoption intention for both genders. We also find that perceived novel benefits are a significant predictor of the smart lock adoption intention for women, but not for men.Research limitations/implicationsOur results indicate that perceived relative advantage can be the singular critical consideration in the adoption of smart home technologies that replace incumbent solutions. The results also demonstrate that gender-specific models can better capture gender effects that influence technology adoption and use.Practical implicationsSmart home technology vendors would need to convince prospective users that new technology is better than the incumbent solutions on the core affordances of the incumbent technology. Men and women differ in the consideration of novel benefits afforded by novel technologies.Originality/valueThis is among the first studies to examine salient beliefs that affect smart home technology adoption. The findings suggest that the traditional models (TAM, UTAUT) do not capture the key salient beliefs that can influence innovative smart home technology adoption. The study also suggests that gendered models are needed to understand technology adoption in contexts where technology adoption intersects with gender roles.

A ticking time bomb? Liverpool declares a climate emergency: What next?

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasbinder Ghag
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Local Level ◽  
City Council ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Uk Government ◽  
The Uk

The UK government has set a new legally binding target under the Climate Change Act 2008. It now aims to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. This opinion considers whether carbon emissions can really be reduced in practice at the local level in the UK, and uses Liverpool City Council as a case study example. It argues that without coordinated action by various people within the council, between its respective departments, other authorities, organisations, key stakeholders and residents the new target is very unlikely to be met. It also highlights the fact that notwithstanding this, the ice caps are actually melting even faster than even the scientists had predicted and that time is actually running out. It argues that radical action is what is needed and that it is needed now.

Modelling factors influencing the adoption of smart-home technologies

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (13/14) ◽  
pp. 906-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny Kwok Wai Wong ◽  
Jodith K.L. Leung
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Government Support ◽  
World Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Interface Devices ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology

Purpose Smart-home technology (SHT) has been identified by the World Health Organization as a possible solution for assisting older people to maintain their independence and to live safely at home when performing the activities of daily living. This study aims to identify the factors, as well as their inter-relationships, influencing senior citizens to adopt elderly-friendly SHT that supports ageing-in-place in high-density Hong Kong living settings. Design/methodology/approach An interpretive structural modelling approach has been used to analyse the factors to develop a better understanding of the relationships between factors influencing SHT adoption, and “Matrice d’Impacts Croisés-Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement” analysis has been used to classify the analysed factors. Findings The results suggested that strong government support, efficient backup supporting service and the design of user interface devices have been found as the driving factors encouraging the adoption of SHT. Other factors, including the maintenance of devices, levels of usage and penetration of devices, individual needs and financial considerations, were considered as autonomous factors and are less important to the decision to adopt SHT. Originality/value This study provides useful information to policymakers and building designers on the human perspective of SHT adoption, such as the needs and requirements of older people to be considered in SHT technical design and appropriate technological solutions.

Conclusion

2020 ◽  
pp. 309-312
Author(s):  
Janis Sarra
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Institutional Investors ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Climate Governance ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Sustainable Economy ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
Combat Climate Change ◽  
Asset Managers

Chapter 10 concludes with some final observations on charting a path forward from ideas to action in the transition to net zero carbon emissions. It draws attention once again to the need for a just and equitable transition to a sustainable economy. It briefly reflects on the coronavirus pandemic lockdown that has commenced. The Appendix offers a governance checklist for directors, officers, pension fiduciaries, and asset managers as they begin to embed effective climate governance in their management and oversight. The Appendix can also be used by employees, investors, community members, and regulators to ask questions that help hold companies and institutional investors accountable for their actions to combat climate change and move towards a sustainable planet.

Design and Application of Smart and Electrical Wheelchair and Charging Station for the Disabled Citizen

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 346-353
Author(s):  
Naim Suleyman Tinğ ◽  
Huseyin Ozel ◽  
Lokman Celik ◽  
Enes Ganidagli ◽  
Hilal Akkamis
Keyword(s):  
Smart Home ◽  
Touch Screen ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Charging Station ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Solar Powered ◽  
Home Technology ◽  
Smart Home Technology ◽  
Smart Wheelchair ◽  
Design And Application

In this paper, the design and application of smart wheelchair and charging station for disabled citizen is realized. The first stage of the paper is to make the wheelchair used by our disabled citizens able to access smart home technology via the vehicle via touch screen. The ability of citizens with disabilities to call with direct access via touch screen is also in the wheelchair designed. Thanks to the touch screen placed on the vehicle, disabled citizens are provided with the control of smart automation to control many objects such as curtains and doors in the home. In the second part of the paper, a solar powered charging station is designed and installed in order to charge battery powered wheelchairs. In the charging station made a special card reader system and has the charger to charge the card with disabilities to actively and means are provided.

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