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CHAPTER 10
From Efficiency to Sufficiency:
Insights from the Swiss Energy Transition
Laure Dobigny and Marlyne Sahakian
Abstract In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Swiss 2050
Energy Strategy aims to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy (RE)
sources, and nuclear power phase-out. Against that backdrop, this chapter provides a brief overview of the socio-material dynamics of household
energy use in Switzerland, highlighting the role of regional energy providers, and the influence of building standards and social norms on everyday
energy usage. We then examine current energy policies, before turning to
the characteristics of Swiss sustainable energy initiatives—highlighting the
important role of research—and focus on a best practice effort to support
sufficiency-based transformations. We conclude with some reflections on
the importance of focusing on sufficiency, rather than efficiency, in the
framing and design of energy initiatives aimed at households.
Keywords Building standards · Energy transition · Energy policy ·
Action-research · Switzerland
© The Author(s) 2019
F. Fahy et al. (eds.), Energy Demand Challenges in Europe,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20339-9_10
L. Dobigny (*) · M. Sahakian
University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
M. Sahakian
e-mail: Marlyne.Sahakian@unige.ch
CHAPTER 10
From Efficiency to Sufficiency:
Insights from the Swiss Energy Transition
Laure Dobigny and Marlyne Sahakian
Abstract In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Swiss 2050
Energy Strategy aims to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy (RE)
sources, and nuclear power phase-out. Against that backdrop, this chapter provides a brief overview of the socio-material dynamics of household
energy use in Switzerland, highlighting the role of regional energy providers, and the influence of building standards and social norms on everyday
energy usage. We then examine current energy policies, before turning to
the characteristics of Swiss sustainable energy initiatives—highlighting the
important role of research—and focus on a best practice effort to support
sufficiency-based transformations. We conclude with some reflections on
the importance of focusing on sufficiency, rather than efficiency, in the
framing and design of energy initiatives aimed at households.
Keywords Building standards · Energy transition · Energy policy ·
Action-research · Switzerland
© The Author(s) 2019
F. Fahy et al. (eds.), Energy Demand Challenges in Europe,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20339-9_10
L. Dobigny (*) · M. Sahakian
University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
M. Sahakian
e-mail: Marlyne.Sahakian@unige.ch