Short answer

Prioritize community engagement and conduct thorough local resource assessments when designing and proposing renewable energy solutions.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (2015)
Method: Mixed-methods research, combining survey research and technical resource assessment.
Evidence: Strong effect

A community's transition to 100% renewable energy is achievable if there is significant public buy-in and sufficient local natural resources like wind and solar potential. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Deep Blue (University of Michigan). Using Mixed-methods research, combining survey research and technical resource assessment., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize community engagement and conduct thorough local resource assessments when designing and proposing renewable energy solutions.

Study

Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Community renewable energy adoption is feasible with strong public support and adequate local resources.

A community's transition to 100% renewable energy is achievable if there is significant public buy-in and sufficient local natural resources like wind and solar potential.

Deep Blue (University of Michigan) · 2015

Key Findings

01The community surveyed showed strong support (71% of respondents) for increasing renewable energy.
02Local wind and solar resources are sufficient to meet the community's electricity demands.
03Land availability supports the deployment of necessary large-scale renewable energy systems.

Application

Design takeaway

Prioritize community engagement and conduct thorough local resource assessments when designing and proposing renewable energy solutions.

How to apply

Before designing a renewable energy system for a specific community, conduct surveys to understand local attitudes and perform detailed assessments of available wind, solar, and land resources.

Project actions

01When researching a new product, consider how the target users feel about similar technologies.
02Investigate the natural resources available in the area where your product might be used.

Method & Evidence

AimTo assess the feasibility of a community transitioning to 100% locally-generated renewable energy.

MethodMixed-methods research, combining survey research and technical resource assessment.

ProcedureA household survey was conducted to gauge community disposition towards renewable energy. Resource assessments for wind and solar power were performed, including site identification for potential renewable energy systems. Energy efficiency potential and policy analyses were also conducted to develop implementation scenarios.

ContextCommunity energy planning and renewable energy deployment.

Variables

IV["Community disposition towards renewable energy","Availability of local renewable resources (wind, solar)","Land availability"]

DV["Feasibility of achieving 100% locally-generated renewable energy"]

CV["Geographic location (Northport and Leelanau Township)","Focus on electricity generation"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Combines qualitative (survey) and quantitative (resource assessment) data.
+Provides actionable scenarios for achieving the stated goal.

Limitations

This study's findings are specific to the community studied and may not apply to all locations. It also only considered electricity.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the survey depends on the sampling method and question design. The validity of the resource assessment relies on the accuracy of the data sources and analytical methods used.

Think critically

How might a lack of community support or insufficient local resources impact the design and implementation of a renewable energy project, even if the technology itself is sound?

Design Principles

"Social acceptance and resource availability are foundational to the successful implementation of sustainable energy systems."

This insight is crucial for designers and engineers involved in developing sustainable energy solutions for communities. It highlights that technical feasibility must be paired with social acceptance and a thorough understanding of local resource availability for successful implementation.

What This Means for Your Design

If people in a town like the idea of renewable energy and there's enough sun and wind, it's possible to power the whole town with clean energy.

How to use in your project

1.Use this study to justify the importance of user research and resource analysis in your design project proposal.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical interplay between community acceptance and resource availability in achieving ambitious sustainability goals. For instance, a study on the Northport 100% Renewable Energy Feasibility demonstrated that significant public support (71% of respondents) coupled with sufficient local wind and solar resources and available land made a transition to 100% renewable electricity feasible, underscoring the need for designers to integrate social research and environmental assessments into their project planning.

Source

Deep Blue (University of Michigan)

Northport 100% Renewable Energy Feasibility Study

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about community renewable energy adoption is feasible with strong public support and adequate local resources?: Prioritize community engagement and conduct thorough local resource assessments when designing and proposing renewable energy solutions. Evidence: Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (2015).
Why does "Community renewable energy adoption is feasible with strong public support and adequate local resources." matter for design?: This insight is crucial for designers and engineers involved in developing sustainable energy solutions for communities. It highlights that technical feasibility must be paired with social acceptance and a thorough understanding of local resource availability for successful implementation.
How can designers apply this research?: Prioritize community engagement and conduct thorough local resource assessments when designing and proposing renewable energy solutions.
What were the main findings?: The community surveyed showed strong support (71% of respondents) for increasing renewable energy.. Local wind and solar resources are sufficient to meet the community's electricity demands.. Land availability supports the deployment of necessary large-scale renewable energy systems.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods research, combining survey research and technical resource assessment..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Deep Blue (University of Michigan).
What should I do differently in my next project?: Before designing a renewable energy system for a specific community, conduct surveys to understand local attitudes and perform detailed assessments of available wind, solar, and land resources.
What are the limitations?: The study focused solely on electricity and did not encompass heating or transportation energy needs. The feasibility was specific to the Northport and Leelanau Township context.