2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Comparative studies of culturally-based characterisation of energy services
| Project/Area Number |
19K14020
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
Cravioto Jordi 京都大学, エネルギー理工学研究所, 特定助教 (60796621)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Energy services / End-uses of energy / Households / Mexico / Japan / Asia / Latin America / SDG |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY2020, the research has concentrated on analyses using the collected data and the preparation of several scientific articles. The first analysis centred on the role of local culture in retrofitting strategies in Mexico by analysing preferences for wall and roof materials using the data. The PI also developed a novel method to assess energy services (ES) access in a second and the third article with his local collaborators. These articles are currently under review. A fourth article, recently published, described the geography of ES access based on results from the second and third article and an interactive map. Finally, a fifth article exploring energy consumption for climatisation, considering climate and equipment preferences, is under preparation.
The PI also submitted an abstract to participate in the Int. Conference of Energy Research and Social Science in 2022. He will present an original method to characterise mixed ES, focusing on cooking, comfort and water heating practices in Mexico using the surveyed data.
Lastly, the second wave of COVID-19 raised the emergency levels in Japan from Apr 2020. From Jun 2020, when the pandemic seemed more stable, the PI re-scheduled the collection plan. However, COVID-19 levels gradually increased again. The third wave set another state of emergency (Nov - Jan), disrupting fieldwork. Now, we are currently in the fourth wave of COVID-19 since Feb 2021. However, the PI plans further data collection when vaccination is more extensive and conditions more favourable in the latter half of 2021.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
New outbreaks and declarations of a state of emergency due to COVID-19 have delayed the data collection in Japan. Complementary fieldwork in Mexico planned in 2020 was also postponed due to travel restrictions. Data collection for energy services in Japan and further qualitative explorations in Mexico will occur in the latter half of 2021. We expect that general conditions for fieldwork are more favourable, with vaccination more extensive and travel restrictions eased.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In 2021-2022, the project will concentrate on analyses of available data, data collection for the Japanese context, and a final data collection in Mexico. By the end of the first half of FY2021, we expect to have our articles under review published and prepare one more paper about Mexico's cultural characterisation of energy services. In the second half, we plan to submit this sixth article of the project. We also plan to make the final field visit to Mexico by the end of 2021 or early 2022. On the other hand, the first and second stages of explorative ES characterisation in Japan will occur in the second half of 2021. We expect that conditions are favourable to collect data during the scheduled time. However, in case we still encounter difficulties due to COVID-19, we will consider techniques to collect data remotely. We expect to collect sufficient data in Japan to prepare two or three academic articles describing energy services and a comparative analysis of Mexico and Japan. The completion of such papers will probably span outside the intended period of funding. However, the collected data will provide the materials for future publications connected with the project.
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| Causes of Carryover |
For 2021-2022, the remaining research budget totals 915,665 yen. Article costs (物品費) will sum approximately 200,000 yen. Travel expenses (旅費) together with 'personnel and gratifications' (人件費・謝金) will amount to 550,000 yen and 'other expenses' (その他) 165,655 yen. Article purchases will include software/hardware assisting data collection and analysis, project management, file storage, and book purchases. Travel expenses will cover 2 to 3 domestic data collections (Japan) and one international travel (Mexico). Lastly, 'other expenses' will cover proof services for article publishing, online maps, web design, and other publishing rights (if necessary).
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Research Products
(1 results)
