About Resolve

RESOLVE is a novel, cross-disciplinary research collaboration between four separate groups in the University of Surrey: the Centre for Environmental Strategy, the Environmental Psychology Research Group, the Surrey Energy Economics Centre and the Department of Sociology.  

The overall aim of RESOLVE is to develop a robust understanding of the links between lifestyle, societal values and environment.  In particular, RESOLVE will work to provide robust, evidence-based advice to policy-makers in the UK and elsewhere who are seeking to understand and to influence the behaviours and practices of 'energy consumers'. Specific objectives of the proposed research group will be:

• to explore material, economic, psychological, sociological and cultural accounts of the relationship between lifestyle choice and environment;
• to develop theoretical and empirical understandings of the potential for long-term lifestyle change in moving towards a sustainable energy economy;
• to understand the economic, social and psychological implications of a technological transition to a sustainable energy economy;
• to develop an empirical 'evidence base' for effective policy intervention in energy-related behaviours and practices;
• to engage effectively with policy-makers, opinion-formers and the media in developing and communicating this new body of research.  

The work programme will be structured around three inter-woven intellectual strands: energy lifestyle mapping (V1), social and environmental psychological influences (V2), and socio-cultural understandings of lifestyles (V3). These three 'vertical' strands are informed and supported by two (horizontal) cross-cutting themes - on energy lifestyle scenarios (H1)and on policy and governance (H2). These themes are summarised in the table here.