pet care practices and the practices of pets

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Pet care practices and the practices of pets Yolande Strengers Visiting Researcher, DEMAND Centre, Lancaster University Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University @yolandestreng

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Page 1: Pet care practices and the practices of pets

Pet care practices and the practices of pets

Yolande Strengers

Visiting Researcher, DEMAND Centre, Lancaster University

Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University

@yolandestreng

Page 2: Pet care practices and the practices of pets

Where are pets in studies & visions of household energy demand?

2RMIT University© 2014 School of Global Urban and Social Science

Image source: http://www.control4.com/info/main-street-americac

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Households and pets

•‘We’ve got five cats and seven chickens, two geese, and four ducks’ (quote from Families research project)

3RMIT University© 2014 School of Global Urban and Social Science

Couch source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/want-to-warm-up-try-a-pet-blanket/story-e6freooo-1226101590239Duck source: http://www.orchardhousegranville.com/theblog/?p=894

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What is a pet?

• Companion animals, friends or members of the family kept primarily for human company and/or protection, and ‘capable of rational thought and emotion’ (Fox 2006: 526)

• ‘Also treated as objects or possessions [or toys] to be discarded if they do not conform to human expectations and values’ (Fox 2006: 526)

• Valued for their ‘animalness’ but also subjected to human practices meant to ‘civilise’ or ‘humanise’ them (e.g. selective breeding, training and neutering) (Fox: 2006).

• Domesticated animals living in a co-dependent relationship with humans (but so are farm animals, livestock and animal ‘pests’)

• ‘Working’ animals (farm dogs, guide dogs etc.) (could be considered pets or non-pets)

• Long history of human-animal relations and studies

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Image source: http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/selecting_the_right_pet.htm

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Global pet trends and impacts

• Currently around 1 billion pet cats and dogs worldwide (not including strays) (Pearse, 2012)

• Pet ownership rates are vastly higher in western countries (Pearse, 2012)

• About 40% of US households own at least one dog, compared with about 6% of Chinese homes (Pearse, 2012)

• In Vietnam and Thailand, the number of dog owners increased by around 50% between 2004 and 2007 (Pearse, 2012)

• In the United States alone, ‘pet care’ is currently a US$50 billion industry, having almost doubled in a decade (Pearse, 2012)

• Many pets in the west have larger ecological- footprints than humans (Vale & Vale, 2009) – largely based on disputed figures about impacts of meat production for pet food

See: http://theconversation.com/what-about-your-carbon-pawprint-9878RMIT University© 2014 School of Global Urban and Social Science 5

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Increasing ‘humanisation’ of pets

• Survey of 1734 Australians found that nearly 90 per cent of pet owners regard their dog or cat as part of the family, and often treat them better (http://www.smh.com.au/national/australias-pet-subjects-all-creatures-great-and-small-20130921-2u6v6.html#ixzz30Y7HsMFh

)

• Pets are Human Too study of 3,000 British dog and cat owners found that 32% of dog and cat owners say their pets are better listeners than their partners (http://www.humaneresearch.org/content/britains-pets-are-human-too-new-pet-humanisation-research-revealed)

• ‘Pets are becoming increasingly humanised, leading to increased investments in premium products and services (financial situation permitting), such as premium pet food and healthcare products.’ (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/9/prweb11135408.htm)

• ‘Humanisation boosts pet products as pets get spoiled’ (http://www.euromonitor.com/pet-care-in-australia/report)

Pets are increasingly adopting human-like practices

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Feeding/ Eating

• ‘Pet food is increasingly being developed and marketed to be more appealing to human tastes, resulting in a rise in gourmet flavours and brands.’ (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/9/prweb11135408.htm)

Image source: http://www.hendricksonbusinessadvisors.com/portfolio/RMIT University© 2014 School of Global Urban and Social Science 7

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Sleeping/ comfort

Image sources: http://www.petsmart.com/cat/mats-pads/sunbeam-heated-outdoor-cat-mat-zid36-5570/cat-36-catid-200058

http://www.pets-haven.com/climate_controlled_dog_houses.htmhttp://www.pet-expo.com/cgi-bin/fullpres.exe?PARTNUM=AKHH1

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Grooming

Image sources: http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dog-clipping.htmlhttp://www.happypetspa.ca/Grooming_-_Dogs.html

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Fitness & health

‘If bad weather, a too-tight work schedule or other difficulties prevent you from walking your dog regularly, there is an easy solution to keep your pet healthy and happy: you can invest in a dog treadmill.’

Source: http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/are-doggie-treadmills-a-good-investment

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(Air) Travel

Source: http://dev.petairways.quimbik.com/content/media-center

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Fashion

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Image source: http://www.pawsforthenews.tv/1news/2current-news/kitty-couture-fashion-show-fun-or-abuse/

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Humanisation = human problem?

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Agency, control & change thought to reside with adult humans

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Pets & energy demand = individual human problem

Source: http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/pets/reduce-your-pets-carbon-paw-print

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• A ‘bundle’ of practices carried out to facilitate care for pets

Pet care practices

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Competences

MaterialsMaterialsMeanings

People as performers/ carriers/ practitionersWhere are pets?

(Adapted from Shove et al., 2012: 23).

Pets as ‘materials’?

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Practices of pets

• Any practice performed by a pet (not necessarily bundled)

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Competences

MaterialsMaterialsMeanings

Pets as performers/ carriers/ practitionersWhere are humans?

(Adapted from Shove et al., 2012: 23; see also Strengers et al. in press).

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‘Animalisation’ of humans: long history recognising human and animal/ pet practices• ‘I’m dog tired’

• ‘I need a cat nap’

• ‘Don’t be such a galah’

• ‘You’re a fish out of water’

• ‘She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing’

• ‘A little birdy told me’

• ‘He’s a shark’

• ‘She’s as mad as a March hare’

• ‘They’re breeding like rabbits’

• ‘You’ve got a bee in your bonnet’

• ‘He’s the black sheep of the family’

• You’re flogging a dead horse’

• There’s an elephant in the room’17RMIT University© 2014 School of Global Urban and Social Science

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Practices of people and pets

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?

(Adapted from Shove et al., 2012: 23).

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Australian empirical research with households

• 2006-10 – PhD research (supervised by Anitra Nelson and Mike Berry)

• 2011-13 – Co-managing Home Energy Demand (CHED) project funded by TransGrid with Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy (with Larissa Nicholls and Ralph Horne)

• 2013 – ICT and energy standby pilot project (Standby) funded by Design Research Institute, RMIT University (with Sarah Pink)

• 2014 – Changing demand in larger family households project (Families) funded by Consumer Advocacy Panel (with Larissa Nicholls)

• Households living in Victoria and New South Wales (Melbourne and Sydney)

• Interviews and home tours with households (approx. 200 homes in total)

• Many households participating in smart metering demand management trials (pricing schemes, automation programs, energy feedback programs)

• Pets often present (and talked about) but not the focus of the research

• Focus on household cooling and thermal comfort

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Australia’s residential energy demand: some concerns

• Residential energy demand has dropped or stabilised in all electricity supply regions of the National Electricity Market (AEMO 2013).

• Electricity prices: 70% real term increase in the last five years (PC 2013).

• Over 50% of these costs are associated with increased network (poles and wires) investment (PC 2013).

• Increasing residential air-conditioning demand on hot days one of the main reasons for this investment.

• The penetration of residential air-conditioning has more than doubled in the last decade (DEWHA 2008).

• 72% of Australian homes have some form of mechanical cooling in their homes (ABS 2011).

• Growing gap between average and peak electricity demand.

• Peak demand infrastructure remains unused for most of the year

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Australian pet trends

• Recent decline in Australian pet ownership

• Spend per pet is increasing (AHA, 2013)

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Image source: http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/aussie-pets-enjoy-purr-fect-life-rod-straw/1309576/

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Australian pet stats

• Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world

• There are more pets living in Australia than people

Image Source: AHA, 2013: 6

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Australian pet stats

Dogs and cats predominately stay at home during the day

Image source: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/its-raining-cats-and-dogs-20130921-2u6lo.html

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Empirical observations of stay-at-home pets (focus on thermal comfort, dogs and cats)

Image source: http://community.petpalstv.com/profiles/blog/list?month=07&year=2012

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Pet care practices: thermal comfort & energy demand

• ‘But, ’cause the dogs sleep downstairs, sometimes when it starts to get really cold in winter, we put a heater on low overnight ’cause it's very cold down there’ (Families).

• ‘I have been thinking about putting in a couple of ducts in here [the garage] for the air -conditioning as well, just for the puppies you know, just when it’s really hot’ (CHED).

• Oh he [the cat] has a heat mat that’s on all the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year and that is not going off… Yeah they love it’ (CHED).

• [The dogs have] got a jump suit and when they go to bed, and they sleep in the laundry here on a matt, a little dog mattress and I just, I cover them. They sleep together and I cover them with a couple of blankets (CHED).

• People performing practices of pet care based on (thermal comfort) meanings, competences and materials in circulation

• Close relationship between human and pet thermal comfort practices

• Assumed needs and thermal requirements of pets important

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Pet care practices: health and comfort for ‘senior pets’

‘Because our two dogs are senior dogs, we are quite conscious of them being cool. On Black Saturday [catastrophic bushfire event], our little Jack Russell, he had heat exhaustion, so we’ve always been conscious of keeping them cool. Up until recently, we had a senior cat, he was 18, and he had a special electric heating bed to sleep in for his arthritis. … We did … [put the air-con on just for the dog during the Black Saturday heat wave]. He dropped himself right in front of it, you know, and that’s, yeah, he was quite sick’ (Families).

Image source: http://dogbeds-info.com/best-dog-beds-old-dogs/

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Adaptive pet practices: adaptive thermal comfort

• ‘These guys [cats] are quite smart. They actually will take themselves to the bed and hop in the bed, under the covers, and that’s how they keep warm’ (Families).

• ‘It's an outside dog, but usually they dig when it's hot. They’ll dig a hole, so you find more holes in your garden and get cool from there’ (CHED).

• ‘Oh dogs tell ya [when they’re hot or cold], they start barkin’. I mean I’ve got dogs at home and they start wimping. But a dog, if they’re free, they can find a shelter in a veranda, they know where it's cool, but if you’ve got them locked up, it's very hard’ (CHED).

• ‘Oh yes, he’s a smart dog, he always lays in the shade’ (CHED).

• Pets performing practices but there is an intersection with the practices of people and available infrastructures (sleeping, gardening, housing)

• Not all pet comfort practices same as human comfort practices

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Image source: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/01/good_for_a_laugh_pets_in_bed_a.html

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(Mal)adaptive pet practices: recruitment into new thermal comfort practices

• ‘[The dogs] sit in front of it [the heater] and look at you’ (CHED)

• ‘The dog was sitting in front of the heater looking at it and we were sitting there quite comfortably and I said, ‘all right, we’ll stick it on’ (PhD).

• ‘[The dog] loves the fan when it’s hot. He doesn’t like the heat, and the cat doesn’t like the heat either’ (PhD).

• Pet practices adapting to human practices

• Pets reflecting their ‘needs’ and desires to their owners

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Image source: http://gwiddle.blogspot.co.uk/2011_01_23_archive.html

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Competitive practices: thermal comfort of humans and pets

• P1: We do have a little heater, but we’ve given it up because the cats sit in front of it. We can’t get it (laughter).I: The cat blocks the heater?P2: Yeah (laughter) (CHED).

• Pet comfort practices and human comfort practices in competition

• Disruption of human comfort via pet comfort

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Image source: http://theverybestcats.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/sharing.html

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Disruptive practices: human thermal comfort & pet urination routines• The back laundry door was ajar [on a really hot day when we had the air-

con on] and the back door of the house was open as well for Bingo [the dog] to come out. … But that’s what we normally do anyway (CHED).

• P1: ‘I get yelled at for having the back door open if I put the heater on.’P2: ‘Well that’s understandable.’P1: ‘So they [the dogs] can go out back for a wee.’P2: ‘But they scratch on the door to go out. Yeah, no the dogs tend to don’t they? They’ll come up to you and say “Hi, it’s me!”.’ (CHED)

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Image source: http://www.autoslide.com/products/automatic-pet-door/

• Human pet care practices (leaving doors open) disrupts human thermal comfort practices

• Pet urination routines disrupts human thermal comfort practices

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Disruptive practices: walking and washing

• ‘And the cat tends to walk across the top of it [the washing machine] and we had a high energy bill and a high water bill at one point, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe the cat’s accidentally turning the washing machine on while we’re out’. … it’s just safer now for me to turn it off. And lo and behold, my water bill’s gone down a little bit. … I know it sounds hilarious, but he does … and I’ve woken up in the middle of the night to hear the washing machine going ’cause he’s actually walked across it and walked back and hit the ‘start’ button, and it’s started filling or it’s started spinning. And I’m, like, “Oh God, no!”’ (Standby).

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Image source: http://alifebewhiskered.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/my-cats-are-fools/

• Cat late night walking disrupts human standby settings on appliances• Not about pet care (or thermal comfort)

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Interlinked practices: Cleaning and hair shedding

• ‘Oh the dog, he sheds hair so [we have to clean the house] because of that. I suppose for health reasons I guess. With … [my husband’s] chest we’ve got to sort of make sure there’s not too much dust around’ (PhD).

• Hair shedding produces unwanted ‘material’ (hair)

• Unwanted hair intersects with human vacuuming practices

• About human care not pet care

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Image source: http://www.dogs.info/latest-dogs-info-blog/sheddingtips-for-a-cleaner-house /

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Synergistic practices: vacuuming and playing

• New vacuuming technology becomes a material element of pet playing and human cleaning practices

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Image source: http://www.catster.com/molz/funny-cat-videos-cats-react-roombaVideo link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4enwctMKlbU

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Recruitment into new entertainment practices

• ‘My cat is very interested in a game called Fish, or Cat Fishing I think it’s called on the iPad; hilarious, it’s the best thing. Yeah, it was put out by Friskies, and it’s just got this little fish that swims around the screen, and the idea is that she taps it. If she taps it she catches it, then it disappears in a little ripple and another one appears somewhere else. … It’s a game for cats. … How cool’s that? It’s awesome, I love it. … She likes that, yes. In the right mood she’ll play it, and she watches television. … she likes the football. Seriously, she does. She watches the little figures running across, back and forth across the screen. … It’s really funny’ (Standby).

• Ipads and televisions technologiescan be materials of human and pet entertainmentpractices

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Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la6vK6hI7rMImage source: http://www.awesomelycute.com/2014/04/cat-just-chilling-and-watching-tv-like-no-other/

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Emerging trends in thermal comfort practices for/ of pets

• Changing meanings about the adaptability of pets

• Declining pet competence in relation to changing materials (e.g. growing reliance on heating/ cooling technologies)

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Source: http://www.pawnation.com/2012/07/02/should-you-leave-the-ac-on-for-your-pet/

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ASPCA advice on cooling for pets: attempts to circulate new practices?

• ‘Dr. Helen Myers of the ASPCA told the news organization that it isn't the heat that is the big problem for pets, but the humidity. Humidity mixed with heat prevents panting -- an animal's natural cooling system -- from working effectively. Dr. Myers suggests leaving fans on to keep the air circulating while you are away, or leaving your AC set around 78-80 degrees [25-26.6 Celsius], a preferred temperature for pets. It is also important to keep all water bowls full to prevent dehydration.’

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Quote source: http://www.pawnation.com/2012/07/02/should-you-leave-the-ac-on-for-your-pet/Image source: http://o.canada.com/life/how-to-keep-cool-during-a-heat-wave

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Dogs and cats ‘unable to adapt’

• American company marketing air-conditioned kennels and catteries says:

– ‘Dogs and Cats do not have built-in climate controls like Humans, they cannot perspire to cool their bodies down when it is hot. The wind from a regular fan cools the human body by evaporating the moisture of our perspiration. That does not help a dog stay cool like it does us, it only circulates hot air’.

Source: http://www.pets-haven.com/climate_controlled_dog_houses.htm

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Thermal comfort requirements of pets are different from humans

• BUT… convergence towards ‘human’ materials, meanings and competencies for pet care and pet thermal comfort practices

Image sources: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/beardeddragon.htmhttp://www.tropicalfishanswers.com/

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Emerging low energy cooling materials

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Evaporative Cooling Mat (promoted by RSPCA):‘Keep your precious pooch cool on a hot summer's day with this innovative Evaporative Cooling Mat. …

It is quick and easy to use and will offer your dog up to six hours of cooling relief per soaking. It will also provide your dog with extended relief from heat fatigue and stress.

Simply submerge the mat in water for 30 - 60 seconds, gently squeeze out the excess water and there you have it: a cool resting place for your cuddly canine.’

Source: https://www.worldforpets.com.au/products/70269

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Emerging low energy cooling materials

• Cooling Vest (promoted by RSPCA): ‘The Cooling Coat can be secured around the chest and torso to keep the coat in place. It features flexible shoulder panels that enhance movement without restrictions. Simply submerge the coat in water for 30 - 60 seconds, gently squeeze out the excess water and there you have it: a fabulous cooling coat for your four-legged friend.’

Source: https://www.worldforpets.com.au/products/70270?cat_slug=/Dog-Merchandise/Dog-Coats

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Low energy cooling strategies (in decline?)

• Water, ice, swimming, ‘pupsicles’, shade (RSPCA QLD)

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Image source: http://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-health/banfield-heatstroke-dog-catImage source: http://www.examiner.com/article/heat-stress-on-your-pets/

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Observations and implications

• Notion of a single adult consumer and human household is problematic

• Anthropocentric notions of agency and ‘humanisation’ discourse don’t tell the whole story

• Agency distributed between humans and non-humans in assemblages of household practice (Coole 2013; Bennett 2005; Strengers et al. in press)

• Pet practices are following similar trends to human practices but not exactly the same

• Pets have different thermal requirements and ‘needs’ to humans

• Pets being recruited into increasingly energy-intensive practices and are adapting to these practices

• The energy demand arising from caring from pets is not just about pet care

• Human and pet practices can be adaptive, maladaptive, synergistic, competitive, disruptive and interlinked

• New meanings, materials and competences being promoted by animal advocates, vets and product marketers – an opportunity for energy demand managers?

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A different couch

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Image source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/want-to-warm-up-try-a-pet-blanket/story-e6freooo-1226101590239

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ThankyouChanging demand project (Families): http://familyenergystudy.net, funded by the Consumer Advocacy Panel (www.advocacypanel.com.au) as part of its grants process for consumer advocacy projects and research projects for the benefit of consumers of electricity and natural gas. The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the Consumer Advocacy Panel or the Australian Energy Market Commission.

Co-managing home energy demand project (CHED): The Co-managing Home Energy Demand project was funded by TransGrid and supported by Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy. The views expressed in this document do not necessarily represent the views of TransGrid, Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy.

This presentation builds on a paper written with Larissa Nicholls and Cecily Maller: Strengers, Y. Nicholls, L. Maller, C. (in press) ‘Curious energy consumers: Humans and nonhumans in assemblages of household practice’, Journal of Consumer Culture

Thanks to Cecily Maller for reviewing an earlier draft of this presentation and to DEMANDers for inspiring chats

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References• ABS 2011, 4602.0.55.001 - Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation, Australian Bureau of

Statistics, Canberra.

• AEMO 2013, National electricity forecasting report for the National Electricity Market, Australian Energy Market Operator, Sydney.

• AHA, 2013, Pet ownership in Australia: Summary 2013, https://petsinaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Pet-Ownership-in-Australia-2013-Summary-ONLINE-VER.pdf, Animal Health Alliance

• Bennett J. (2005) The agency of assemblages and the North American blackout. Public Culture, 17: 445-465.

• Coole D. (2013) Agentic Capacities and Capacious Historical Materialism: Thinking with New Materialisms in the Political Sciences. Millennium - Journal of International Studies.

• DEWHA 2008, Energy Use in the Australian Residential Sector, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, Canberra.

• Fox, R. (2006) ‘Animal behaviours, post-human lives: everyday negotiations of the animal–human divide in pet-keeping’, Social & Cultural Geography, 7:4, 525-537

• PC. 2013, Electricity Networks and Regulatory Frameworks Inquiry Report, Productivity Commission (PC), Canberra.

• Pearse, G. (2012) Green wash: Big brands and climate scams, Black Inc.

• Shove, E, Pantzar, M & Watson, M 2012, The dynamics of social practice: everyday life and how it changes, SAGE, London.

• Strengers, Y. Nicholls, L. Maller, C. (in press) Curious energy consumers: Humans and nonhumans in assemblages of household practice, Journal of Consumer Culture

• Vale, B & Vale, R. Time to eat the dog? The real guide to sustainable living, Thames & Hudson.

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Creature Comforts

• Award-winning ad campaign by UK Electricity Board from early 1990s.

• ‘The power of a campaign which can make consumers feel warm towards a utility cannot be underestimated’ – quote from UK’s leading advertising journal, Campaign

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv2tdCEBkKg

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