An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations

This article applies a systems thinking logic to analyse energy poverty situations, using the Sofia informal settlement, a representative energy-poor community in South Africa, as a case study. Energy poverty in such communities transliterates into three interrelated energy poverty systems – materia...

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Main Author: Perpetua I. Okoye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Croatian Interdisciplinary Society 2024-12-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://indecs.eu/2024/indecs2024-pp666-683.pdf
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author Perpetua I. Okoye
author_facet Perpetua I. Okoye
author_sort Perpetua I. Okoye
collection DOAJ
description This article applies a systems thinking logic to analyse energy poverty situations, using the Sofia informal settlement, a representative energy-poor community in South Africa, as a case study. Energy poverty in such communities transliterates into three interrelated energy poverty systems – material cultures, cognitive norms, and energy practices. The study investigates energy-related parameters and elements contributing to energy poverty in Sofia and similar informal settlements across South Africa. By adopting the systems thinking, these elements are identified and integrated into subsystems within the Energy Poverty Systems, modelled into the energy poverty model. The synergistic interactions influencing energy poverty are captured using causal loop diagrams. These diagrams offer a systems perspective on energy poverty analysis, providing actionable insights into critical gaps and intervention opportunities. The findings are intended to inform policies and tailored, inclusive interventions motivating sustainable energy access in informal settlements across South Africa.
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series Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems
spelling doaj-art-ede019d7342f4bbabd10c273c51b08db2024-12-31T18:44:24ZengCroatian Interdisciplinary SocietyInterdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems1334-46841334-46762024-12-0122666668310.7906/indecs.22.6.3An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty SituationsPerpetua I. Okoye0University of Pretoria – Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology – Department of Engineering and Technology Management, Pretoria, South AfricaThis article applies a systems thinking logic to analyse energy poverty situations, using the Sofia informal settlement, a representative energy-poor community in South Africa, as a case study. Energy poverty in such communities transliterates into three interrelated energy poverty systems – material cultures, cognitive norms, and energy practices. The study investigates energy-related parameters and elements contributing to energy poverty in Sofia and similar informal settlements across South Africa. By adopting the systems thinking, these elements are identified and integrated into subsystems within the Energy Poverty Systems, modelled into the energy poverty model. The synergistic interactions influencing energy poverty are captured using causal loop diagrams. These diagrams offer a systems perspective on energy poverty analysis, providing actionable insights into critical gaps and intervention opportunities. The findings are intended to inform policies and tailored, inclusive interventions motivating sustainable energy access in informal settlements across South Africa.https://indecs.eu/2024/indecs2024-pp666-683.pdfenergy poverty systemsenergy poverty modelinformal settlementssystems thinkingcausal loop diagrams
spellingShingle Perpetua I. Okoye
An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems
energy poverty systems
energy poverty model
informal settlements
systems thinking
causal loop diagrams
title An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations
title_full An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations
title_fullStr An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations
title_full_unstemmed An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations
title_short An Informal Settlement Case Study – A Systems Thinking Logic Applied to Energy Poverty Situations
title_sort informal settlement case study a systems thinking logic applied to energy poverty situations
topic energy poverty systems
energy poverty model
informal settlements
systems thinking
causal loop diagrams
url https://indecs.eu/2024/indecs2024-pp666-683.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT perpetuaiokoye aninformalsettlementcasestudyasystemsthinkinglogicappliedtoenergypovertysituations
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