EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/D032709/1
Title: Unlocking Low Carbon Potential
Principal Investigator: Reason, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Shackley, Dr S Evans, Professor J Aylen, Mr J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Baxi CompAir UK Ltd Hygrade
Northern Foods plc The Green Alliance Trust Unilever
Department: School of Management
Organisation: University of Bath
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2005 Ends: 31 July 2009 Value (£): 818,926
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Energy Efficiency Heat & Mass Transfer
Manufact. Business Strategy Manufact. Enterprise Ops& Mgmt
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
Food and Drink
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Many industries use energy in inefficient ways, producing unnecessary carbon emissions. The food industry is one such industry, using significant amounts of energy for cooking, refrigeration and pumping. Technologies exist which could greatly reduce the use of energy, but which appear not to be widely used. Research suggests that the major barriers to employment of these technologies are mainly organizational, social, psychological rather than technological. The project will first survey the stock of capital in these energy intensive industries to determine the windows of opportunity for new energy saving investment. The research will then use an action research approach, combined with limited technological support, to work in participation with organization members at all levels to discover the barriers to adopting these stalled technologies, and the practices which could be used to enable them to be more widely taken up. The outputs should have profound impact on organisations and governments attempting to align themselves to a low carbon trajectory.REVISED Summaryany industries uMse energy in inefficient ways, producing unnecessary carbon emissions. The food industry is one such industry, using significant amounts of energy for cooking, refrigeration and pumping. Technologies exist which could greatly reduce the use of energy, but which appear not to be widely used; similarly business strategies such as the service company offer potential for carbon savings but are not widely adopted. Research suggests that the major barriers to employment of these technologies are mainly organizational, social, psychological rather than technological. The project will survey the stock of capital in these energy intensive industries to determine the windows of opportunity for new energy saving investment. The research will then use an action research approach, combined with limited technological support, to work in participation with organization members at all levels to discover the barriers to adopting these stalled technologies and business solutions, and the practices which could be used to enable them to be more widely taken up. The outputs should have profound impact on organisations and governments attempting to align themselves to a low carbon trajectory.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.bath.ac.uk