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Empowering the Irish Energy Transition: Harnessing Sensor Technology for Engagement in an Embedded Living Lab

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  • Madeleine Lyes

    (Department of Economics, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
    University of Limerick/Limerick City and County Council Citizen Innovation Lab, V94 DW21 Limerick, Ireland)

Abstract

The transition to a decarbonised energy system in Ireland presents significant socio-technical challenges. This paper, focused on the work of the SMARTLAB project at the Citizen Innovation Lab in Limerick city, investigated the potential of a localised living lab approach to address these challenges. Engaging across 70 buildings and their inhabitants, the project captured the evolution of attitudes and intentions towards the clean energy transition in ways directly relevant to future policy implementation across grid redevelopment, smart service design, and national retrofit. Project methodology was framed by a living lab approach, with wireless energy and indoor environment sensors installed in participant buildings and participant journeys developed by harnessing the Citizen Innovation Lab ecosystem. The results indicate behaviour changes among participants, particularly focusing on indoor environmental conditions. The study concludes that embedded, localised living labs offer a methodological framework which can capture diverse datasets and encompass complex contemporary contexts towards transition goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Madeleine Lyes, 2025. "Empowering the Irish Energy Transition: Harnessing Sensor Technology for Engagement in an Embedded Living Lab," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6677-:d:1707130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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