Ethnographies of Energy

Ethnographies of Energy

Speaker:  Susan Mazur-Stommen

Date:  Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Meeting, 7:00 pm, Sumner School, Rotating Gallery G-4

Pre-meeting get-together, 5:30 pm Beacon Bar and Grill

Susan Mazur-Stommen will discuss recent ethnographic research conducted in the arena of energy conservation and efficiency.  In 2010 she conducted research as a consultant for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories' Cool Communities project on the subject of cool roof retrofits and customer satisfaction in Northern California.  In 2012, as Director of Behavior and Human Dimensions for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), she lead ethnographic research in four Southern states regarding everyday energy usage and consumer attitudes about efficiency measures. Upcoming ethnographies being planned at ACEEE include building managers and factory workers in NYC. She will talk about planning, methodology, and the reception anthropologists face in highly technical fields.

About the Speaker:

Susan Mazur-Stommen joined ACEEE in 2011. She directs the Behavior and Human Dimensions Program, where she is the co-chair for the BECC conference, and conducts qualitative research on behavior change and energy usage.  

Prior to joining ACEEE, Susan worked as an adjunct professor in the California State University system; and also ran her own consulting firm, Indicia Consulting, doing ethnographic research for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on cool roof retrofit rebates, among other clients.

Susan earned both a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside, and her Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from San Jose State University.

Areas of Expertise:  Qualitative research and methodology; human behavior and decision-making; corporate ethnography and user experience

Meeting:  Charles Sumner School, corner of 17th St and M St NW, Washington, DC

How to get there:  The Sumner School is located at 1201 17th St NW (corner of 17th St and M St NW).  The entrance to the meeting area is on 17th St under the black metal stairway. Directions from Metro Red Line: From Farragut North station, take either L St exit, walk one block east to 17th St, turn left and walk 2 blocks north.  Enter the building through the double doors under the black metal staircase.  MEETING ROOM:  Rotating Gallery G-4 (ground floor)

Pre-meeting:  Beacon Bar & Grill (one block north of Sumner School)

How to get there:  The Beacon Bar & Grill is in the Beacon Hotel located at 1615 Rhode Island Ave NW (corner of Rhode Island and 17th St).  Directions from Metro Red Line Farragut North station: take either L St exit, walk one block east to 17th St, turn left and walk 3 blocks north (one block past Sumner School).  All are welcome.