Smart Local Energy Systems

Researchers working on Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES) have used the iceberg to highlight the extent of undervalued and under-supported work from households and communities that goes into adopting smart energy systems. The researchers call this 'below-the-waterline' work "energy housekeeping." They argue that energy housekeeping is what makes SLES function but this work receives far less policy attention than technology development, despite it being crucial for success. Click here for the Research Briefing.

The research project, Household and Community Labour in Smart Local Energy Systems, is a partnership between the University of Sussex, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and King’s College London. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The Principal Investigator is Prof Adrian Smith from the University of Sussex, and member of the Community Economies Research Network.