Gaseous Domesticities Workshop

Join this co-production workshop based on Sam Johnson-Schlee’s British Academy Innovation Fellowship research findings. The workshop will discuss how this research can inform new approaches to communicating with householders about energy adaptation and retrofit.

The workshop will introduce three data sets:

• Archival research into the historic advertisement and comms regarding gas and heating
• Machine Learning media analysis carried out by the research agency Space Doctors
• Qualitative analysis of research with 13 householders

Through workshop exercises we will explore this data and identify implications and guidelines for how to communicate to householders about adaptation and retrofit.

A taster of the research:

One of the key themes in the research is the enduring positivity surrounding domestic gas for many householders. Remarkably contemporary views appear to echo British Gas messaging from the 20th century.

Interviewees: “I like to use gas for cooking as firstly it’s what I am used to , I believe it is cheaper than electric , easier to cook with as it more controllable, you can adjust the flame to your requirements, it is visible which makes it far more user friendly than electric.”

Interviewee: “I like gas cooking because I can see the flames and it’s easy to set the heat I want, and the heat level adapts quickly on the turn of the knob.”

1962 Communications strategy document: “If young householders are to be prevented from going all electric, the Gas industry must fight on what the agents regard as its strongest ground speedy heat for cooking, with heat for space and water heating following naturally.”

Below Advert from 1965 promising ‘control’ and ‘obedience’ from gas: