191
embedded in running the supermarkets, are attributed to the category ‘ Food and
Catering’. The exception to this is emissions due to space heating which are included
as a separate category as they account for such a high proportion of carbon emissions (13 %). Druckman and Jackson’s ( 2010 ) analysis shows that there is an element of travel emissions in all categories apart from space heating. They fi nd that
while there are a great deal of carbon emissions tied up in the mundane activities of
everyday life, such as keeping families warm (‘Space Heating’ 13 %), fed (‘Food &
Catering’ 24 %), safe and secure (‘ Household ’
10 11 %) and clothed (‘Clothing &
Footwear’ 8 %), ‘ Recreation & Leisure ’ is, however, the largest category at around
27 % (Druckman and Jackson 2010 ).
Understanding emissions due to recreation and leisure is important for a number
of reasons: they arise due to ‘discretionary’ activities, and so this category may offer
rich opportunities for reductions; this category accounts for a substantial proportion
of the carbon footprint as described above (Druckman and Jackson 2009 , 2010 ;
Benders et al. 2012 ); emissions in this category are generally increasing, with
energy intensive forms of leisure (such as fl ying on holidays) generally increasing
whereas less energy intensive leisure activities, such as reading, are stable or
decreasing (Aall et al. 2011 ). Also there has been an increasing ‘materialisation’ of
leisure practices, whereby, for example there are increasing tendencies to buy specialist equipment and clothing for walking and other such pursuits (Aall et al. 2011 ).
10 The Household category comprises the carbon emissions that are associated with constructing,
occupying and running a dwelling.
Table 9.2 A summary of selected studies on the carbon footprints of households
Source
Country
Number of
categories
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or
greenhouse gases (GHG)?
Druckman and Jackson
( 2010 )
UK
44
GHG
Jones and Kammen
( 2011 )
USA
27
GHG
Dey et al. ( 2003 )
Australia
17
GHG
Benders et al. ( 2012 )
The Netherlands
12
GHG
Gough et al. ( 2011 )
UK
5
GHG
Kerkhof et al. ( 2008 )
The Netherlands
5
GHG
Jackson et al. ( 2006 )
UK
27
CO 2
Bin and Bowlatabadi
( 2005 )
USA
18
CO 2
Weber and Mathews
( 2008 )
USA
13
CO 2
Baiocchi et al. ( 2010 )
UK
12
CO 2
Kerkhof et al. ( 2009 )
The Netherlands, UK,
Sweden, Norway
12
CO 2
Druckman and Jackson
( 2009 )
UK
9
CO 2
9 Understanding Households as Drivers of Carbon Emissions
embedded in running the supermarkets, are attributed to the category ‘ Food and
Catering’. The exception to this is emissions due to space heating which are included
as a separate category as they account for such a high proportion of carbon emissions (13 %). Druckman and Jackson’s ( 2010 ) analysis shows that there is an element of travel emissions in all categories apart from space heating. They fi nd that
while there are a great deal of carbon emissions tied up in the mundane activities of
everyday life, such as keeping families warm (‘Space Heating’ 13 %), fed (‘Food &
Catering’ 24 %), safe and secure (‘ Household ’
10 11 %) and clothed (‘Clothing &
Footwear’ 8 %), ‘ Recreation & Leisure ’ is, however, the largest category at around
27 % (Druckman and Jackson 2010 ).
Understanding emissions due to recreation and leisure is important for a number
of reasons: they arise due to ‘discretionary’ activities, and so this category may offer
rich opportunities for reductions; this category accounts for a substantial proportion
of the carbon footprint as described above (Druckman and Jackson 2009 , 2010 ;
Benders et al. 2012 ); emissions in this category are generally increasing, with
energy intensive forms of leisure (such as fl ying on holidays) generally increasing
whereas less energy intensive leisure activities, such as reading, are stable or
decreasing (Aall et al. 2011 ). Also there has been an increasing ‘materialisation’ of
leisure practices, whereby, for example there are increasing tendencies to buy specialist equipment and clothing for walking and other such pursuits (Aall et al. 2011 ).
10 The Household category comprises the carbon emissions that are associated with constructing,
occupying and running a dwelling.
Table 9.2 A summary of selected studies on the carbon footprints of households
Source
Country
Number of
categories
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or
greenhouse gases (GHG)?
Druckman and Jackson
( 2010 )
UK
44
GHG
Jones and Kammen
( 2011 )
USA
27
GHG
Dey et al. ( 2003 )
Australia
17
GHG
Benders et al. ( 2012 )
The Netherlands
12
GHG
Gough et al. ( 2011 )
UK
5
GHG
Kerkhof et al. ( 2008 )
The Netherlands
5
GHG
Jackson et al. ( 2006 )
UK
27
CO 2
Bin and Bowlatabadi
( 2005 )
USA
18
CO 2
Weber and Mathews
( 2008 )
USA
13
CO 2
Baiocchi et al. ( 2010 )
UK
12
CO 2
Kerkhof et al. ( 2009 )
The Netherlands, UK,
Sweden, Norway
12
CO 2
Druckman and Jackson
( 2009 )
UK
9
CO 2
9 Understanding Households as Drivers of Carbon Emissions