Title: Cross Currents: water Scarcity and Sustainable CHI
Author: Tad Hirsch
Publisher: CHI 2010: Imagine all the People, April 10-15, 2010
Summary
Water shortages is one of the many issues the world faces. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 8 people currently lack access to safe water. It is estimated that 2 of 3 people could be living under "water stress" by 2025. The researchers sought to understand what "sustainability" means and how water (and anything that is a precious resource) is conserved today. The site that they study is central New Mexico, an area bounded by Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe.
They held structured and unstructured interviews with government, industry, agricultural and residential individuals. They found that there was a variety of conservation practices, from low-flow toilets and efficient appliances to extensive irrigation systems. While everyone was aware that conservation was necessary, many expressed that there were ways they could do more (upgrade appliances). Cost was generally not a factor when it came to motivation as to why they conserve. Many cited "it was the right thing to do" and that "we live in a desert". This is not to say that economics did not play a factor, but that rather, it may not be a particularly large factor.
They found the biggest challenge to be allocation. Water to places like farms and factories are based on a "use it or lose it" type principle. This typically discourages conservation as people want to get as much for their money. Now that they have gone to a "modern economy" based on casinos and serves, they have shifted to maintaining things like soccer fields and golf courses. The researchers find "sustainability" to be a very elusive concept. Government officials in NM feel like their 40 year plan is good, but many feel that this time frame is laughably short.
Discussion
Similar to last week's article, i'm not sure what this had to do with CHI. This seemed more like a societal or public policy study than anything. They caution designers to think of conservation as shaped by a variety of factors including identity, value and social norms. Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all type endeavor. Sustainability is much more than just consuming fewer resources; it is about changing entire systems from individuals to institutions. Again, I feel that this work would be much more beneficial to those creating public policy.
They held structured and unstructured interviews with government, industry, agricultural and residential individuals. They found that there was a variety of conservation practices, from low-flow toilets and efficient appliances to extensive irrigation systems. While everyone was aware that conservation was necessary, many expressed that there were ways they could do more (upgrade appliances). Cost was generally not a factor when it came to motivation as to why they conserve. Many cited "it was the right thing to do" and that "we live in a desert". This is not to say that economics did not play a factor, but that rather, it may not be a particularly large factor.
They found the biggest challenge to be allocation. Water to places like farms and factories are based on a "use it or lose it" type principle. This typically discourages conservation as people want to get as much for their money. Now that they have gone to a "modern economy" based on casinos and serves, they have shifted to maintaining things like soccer fields and golf courses. The researchers find "sustainability" to be a very elusive concept. Government officials in NM feel like their 40 year plan is good, but many feel that this time frame is laughably short.
Discussion
Similar to last week's article, i'm not sure what this had to do with CHI. This seemed more like a societal or public policy study than anything. They caution designers to think of conservation as shaped by a variety of factors including identity, value and social norms. Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all type endeavor. Sustainability is much more than just consuming fewer resources; it is about changing entire systems from individuals to institutions. Again, I feel that this work would be much more beneficial to those creating public policy.
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