Janette Webb MBE FRSE FEI | School of Social and Political Science

Professor Janette Webb MBE FRSE FEI

Professor of Sociology of Organisations

jan.webb@ed.ac.uk

+44 (0)131 650 3987

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janette-webb-2438882b/

2.93

Old Surgeons Hall

High School Yards

Edinburgh

EH1 1LZ

Research interests

Cities Energy & Sustainability Energy, environment and sustainability Environment and energy Governance & Democracy

My research centres on social studies of energy and climate change. With funding from UK Research and Innovation, our research group studies comparative European heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency governance, and developments in integrated local and regional energy systems. Recent work also evaluated the Energy Efficient Scotland Pilot Programme (funding from Scottish ClimateXChange). Research findings have for example informed the UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Prospering from the Energy Revolution, and the draft Scottish Government Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.

Recent invited presentations include Energy and Land Use in a Climate and Nature Emergency, Zoological Society of London, June 2024; Housing and Net Zero: Progress and Challenges, Scottish Parliament Futures Forum April 2024; Scotland's Hydrogen Economy: Public Engagement and Just Transition, ScotChem, St Andrews, May 2023; Local Energy Systems in Britain – the road less travelled and how to get there, CREDS in Collaboration: Scotland ClimateXchange, Edinburgh, March 2023; Energy Smart Places: the Role of Local Authorities, InnovateUK Prospering from the Energy Revolution, Manchester, Feb 2023; Keynote Address Civil society action on clean energy: how and why do European cities differ? 3rd International Conference on Energy Research & Social Science 2022.

I am a member of Innovate UK/Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Advisory Group; SSEN Distribution System Operator Advisory Board; Innovate UK Net Zero Living Advisory Group and UK Government DESNZ Local Net Zero Accelerator finance support Project Board. I was co-director of the UK Energy Research Centre leading multi-displinary research on integrated local amd regional energy system, 2019-2024. I recently served as member of Scottish Science Advisory Council; Co-Chair of the Energy Technology Partnership (Scotland) Advisory Board and member of the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland. I was a member of Scottish Power Energy Networks Customer Engagement Group (2021-22) during business investment planning for Ofgem's 2023-28 price control.

Background

BSc (Hons) First Class, Psychology, University of Hull
PhD Social Psychology, University of Nottingham

Works within

Sociology

Please email for appointment

Publication	Research Explorer link
Cowell R, Webb J. What do we know about the effectiveness of local energy plans? A systematic review of the research. Energy Research & Social Science. 2024 Dec;118:1-40. 103767. Epub 2024 Sept 19. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103767	View
Sugar K, Wade F, Webb J. Local authority engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises in energy efficiency: Governance approaches used in the Energy Efficient Scotland programme. Environmental Policy and Governance. 2024 Jun 15;1-15. Epub 2024 Jun 15. doi: 10.1002/eet.2119	View
Wade F, Britton J, Webb J. Credible and comprehensive? Comparing policy mixes for Local Energy systems in England, Scotland and Wales. Energy Research & Social Science. 2024 Apr 1;110:1-15. 103413. Epub 2024 Feb 2. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103413	View
Braunholtz-Speight T, Sharmina M, Pappas D, Webb J, Fuentes-González F, Hannon M. Smart power to the people: Business models for engaging domestic energy users in smart local energy systems in Britain. Energy Research and Social Science. 2024 Apr;110:103443. Epub 2024 Feb 14. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103443	View
Britton J, Webb J. Institutional work and social skill: The formation of strategic action fields for local energy systems in Britain. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 2024 Mar 1;50:1-14. 100789. Epub 2023 Dec 1. doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2023.100789	View
Britton J, Poulter H, Rattle I, Bolton R, Webb J, Taylor P. Governing local energy and industrial decarbonisation in Britain: Planning innovations and implications for net zero GHG emission goals. In Governance innovations for climate and energy transitions in cities’ ECPR Joint Sessions. 2024	View
Bolton R, Bell K, Poulter H, Webb J. Strategic planning of electricity networks: Playing the long game. In Review of Energy Policy 2023. UK Energy Research Centre. 2023. p. 23-25 doi: 10.5286/UKERC.EDC.000967	View
Britton J, Webb J, Bolton R. Local and regional energy systems. In Review of Energy Policy 2023. UK Energy Research Centre. 2023. p. 8-10 doi: 10.5286/UKERC.EDC.000967	View
Pappas D, Braunholtz-Speight T, Hannon M, Webb J, Fuentes González F, Sharmina M. Business models for smart local energy systems—A triple layered perspective. Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy. 2023 Jan 19;1:1-17. 1058534. doi: 10.3389/fsuep.2022.1058534	View
Britton J, Woodman B, Webb J. Ideational bricolage as a route to transforming local institutions for heat decarbonisation: Heat networks and local government in England. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. 2022 Jul 4;24(4):449-462. Epub 2022 Jun 6. doi: 10.1080/1523908X.2022.2082932	View
Sugar K, Webb J, Wade F. Energy Efficient Scotland Transition Programme Survey Evaluation. Scottish Government, 2022.	View
Wade F, Webb J, Creamer E. Local government capacities to support net zero: Developing comprehensive heat and energy efficiency strategies in Scotland. Energy Research & Social Science. 2022 Jul;89. Epub 2022 Mar 15. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102544	View
Sugar K, Webb J. Value for money: Local authority action on clean energy for net zero. Energies. 2022 Jun 15;15(12):4359. doi: 10.3390/en15124359	View
Wade F, Webb J, Tingey M. Local heat and energy efficiency policy: Ambiguity and ambivalence in England and Scotland. In Webb J, Wade F, Tingey M, editors, Research Handbook on Energy and Society. Edward Elgar Publishing. 2021. p. 229-244. (Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change). doi: 10.4337/9781839100710.00027	View
Webb J, Wade F, Tingey M. Introduction to Research Handbook on Energy and Society: Why study energy and society? In Webb J, Wade F, Tingey M, editors, Research Handbook on Energy and Society. Edward Elgar Publishing. 2021. p. 1-13. (Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change). doi: 10.4337/9781839100710.00008	View
Webb J, Wade F. Conclusions and new directions for energy and society research. In Webb J, Wade F, Tingey M, editors, Research Handbook on Energy and Society. 9781839100703: Edward Elgar Publishing. 2021. p. 367-374. (Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change). doi: 10.4337/9781839100710.00038	View
Webb J, (ed.), Wade F, (ed.), Tingey M, (ed.). Research Handbook on Energy and Society. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021. 416 p. (Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change). doi: 10.4337/9781839100710	View
McColl P, Escobar O, Webb J. Participatory Politics and the Climate Emergency. Royal Society of Edinburgh , 2021.	View
Webb J, Lunn R. Energy. Royal Society of Edinburgh . 2021 Nov 2, p. 1-18.	View
Fuentes Gonzalez F, Webb J, Sharmina M, Hannon M, Braunholtz-Speight T, Pappas D. Local energy businesses in the United Kingdom: Clusters and localism determinants based on financial ratios. Energy. 2021 Sept 22;239(Part B). Epub 2021 Sept 22. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122119	View
Hofman P, Wade F, Webb J, Groenleer M. Retrofitting at scale: Comparing transition experiments in Scotland and the Netherlands. Buildings & Cities. 2021 Jul 13;2(1):637–654. doi: 10.5334/bc.98	View
Tingey M, Webb J, van der Horst D. Housing retrofit: Six types of local authority energy service models. Buildings & Cities. 2021 Jun 23;2(1):518–532. doi: 10.5334/bc.104	View
Webb J, van der Horst D. Understanding policy divergence after United Kingdom devolution: Strategic action fields in Scottish energy efficiency policy. Energy Research & Social Science. 2021 Jun 1;78:102121. Epub 2021 Jun 1. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102121	View
Pullinger M, Kilgour J, Goddard N, Berliner N, Webb L, Dzikovska M et al. The IDEAL household energy dataset, electricity, gas, contextual sensor data and survey data for 255 UK homes. Scientific Data. 2021 May 28;8(1):146. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00921-y	View
Fuentes González F, Webb J, Sharmina M, Hannon M, Pappas D, Tingey M. Characterising a local energy business sector in the United Kingdom: Participants, revenue sources, and estimates of localism and smartness. Energy. 2021 May 15;223:1-12. 120045. Epub 2021 Feb 3. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120045	View
Cowell R, Webb J. Making useful knowledge for heat decarbonisation: Lessons from local energy planning in the United Kingdom. Energy Research & Social Science. 2021 Mar 25;75:102010. Epub 2021 Mar 25. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102010	View
Sugden D, Werritty A, Webb J, Kerr A. Climate Emergency. Lessons from the Covid-19 emergency? Scottish Geographical Journal. 2021 Feb 14;136(1-4):49-56. doi: 10.1080/14702541.2020.1853875	View
Lane M, Van Der Horst D, Tingey M, Smith C, Webb J. Social innovation in the shadow of policy failure: Energy efficiency in self-build housing. Global Transitions. 2020 Sept 4;2:180-189. doi: 10.1016/j.glt.2020.08.001	View
Tingey M, Webb J. Net zero localities: Ambition & value in UK local authority investment. University of Strathclyde Publishing, 2020. 38 p.	View
Wade F, Bush R, Webb J. Emerging linked ecologies for a national scale retrofitting programme: The role of local authorities and delivery partners. Energy Policy . 2020 Feb;137:111179. Epub 2019 Dec 19. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111179	View
Tingey M, Webb J. Governance institutions and prospects for local energy innovation: Laggards and leaders among UK local authorities. Energy Policy. 2020 Jan 20;138. Epub 2020 Jan 20. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111211	View
Myers H, Wade F, Webb J. Mapping emerging subcontracting networks for the energy efficiency retrofit of hard-to-treat buildings. In Corse C, Nelson CJ, editors, 35th Annual Conference on Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2019. ARCOM (Association of Researchers in Construction Management. 2019. p. 852-861	View
Webb J. New lamps for old: Financialised governance of cities and clean energy. Journal of Cultural Economy. 2019 Aug;12(4):286-298. Epub 2019 May 24. doi: 10.1080/17530350.2019.1613253	View
Denham C, Russell M, Lunn R, Harley S, Harrison G, Little G et al. Royal Society of Edinburgh Inquiry : Scotland’s Energy Future. Edinburgh: Royal Society of Edinburgh , 2019. 124 p.	View
Bush R, Hawkey D, Webb J, Tingey M. Meeting the strategic challenges of UK district heating: research briefing and practitioner resources. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2019. 9 p.	View
Webb J, Tingey M, Hawkey D. Il ruolo degli enti locali nel sistema energetico: insegnamenti dal Regno Unito. ENERGIA. 2018 Sept 19;18(3):46-52.	View
Pullinger M, Webb L, Morgan E, Webb J. Impacts of digital feedback on the precursors of behaviour change: Findings from a large experimental field study. 2018. Abstract from 5th European Conference on Behaviour and Energy Efficiency, Zurich, Switzerland.	View
Tingey M, Webb J. Who else will need to deliver? The role of community and local institutions. London: Institute for Public Policy Research, 2018. 6 p.	View
Hawkey D, Tingey M, Webb J. Workshop report – International workshop on public ownership of energy. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2018. 9 p.	View
Webb J, Tingey M, Hawkey D. What We Know about Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems: Ambitions, Activities, Business Structures & Ways Forward. London: UK Energy Research Centre, 2017. 54 p.	View
Webb J, Bramley G, Fitzpatrick S, Liddell C. A New Definition of Fuel Poverty in Scotland: Review of Evidence. Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2017.	View
Lovell H, Pullinger M, Webb J. How do meters mediate? Energy meters, boundary objects and household transitions in Australia and the United Kingdom. Energy Research & Social Science. 2017 Sept 7;34:252-259. Epub 2017 Sept 7. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2017.07.001	View
Carter C, Morgan E, Webb L, Goddard N, Webb J. Enhance: The Assembly Rooms Energy Living Lab. In Roaf S, editor, PLEA 2017 Conference Proceedings. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: PLEA (Passive and Low Energy Architecture). 2017. p. 669-676	View
Morgan E, Webb L, Goddard N, Carter C, Webb J. Co-Designing Innovations for Energy Saving in Large Organisations. In DIS '17 Companion Proceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference Companion Publication on Designing Interactive Systems. ACM. 2017. p. 50-54 doi: 10.1145/3064857.3079118	View
Webb J, Hawkey D. On (not) assembling a market for sustainable energy: Heat network infrastructure and British cities. Journal of Cultural Economy. 2017 Feb;10(1):8-20. Epub 2016 Sept 7. doi: 10.1080/17530350.2016.1226193	View
Tingey M, Webb J, Hawkey D. Local Authority Engagement in UK Energy Systems: Highlights from Early Findings. Loughborough: Energy Technologies Institute, 2017.	View
Webb J, Hawkey D, McCrone D, Tingey M. House, home and transforming energy in a cold climate. Families, Relationships and Societies. 2016 Nov;5(3):411–429. Epub 2016 Oct 10. doi: 10.1332/204674316X14758447787663	View
Webb J. Heat and Energy Efficiency: Making Effective Policy . London: UK Committee on Climate Change, 2016. 21 p.	View
Webb L, Morgan E, Carter C, Webb J, Goddard N. A Living Lab Co-Creational Approach to Energy Demand Reduction in Non-Domestic Buildings: Understanding the Organisation. 2016. Paper presented at 4th European Conference on Behaviour and Energy Efficiency, Coimbra, Portugal.	View
Pullinger M, Goddard N, Webb J. An Experimental Research Design for Evaluating Energy Feedback. In The 4th European Conference on Behaviour and Energy Efficiency (Behave 2016). 2016	View
Webb J, Hawkey D, Tingey M. Governing cities for sustainable energy: The UK case. Cities. 2016 May 30;54:28-35. Epub 2015 Dec 23. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2015.10.014	View
Webb J. Enabling Urban Energy. In Coutard O, Rutherford J, editors, Beyond the Networked City: Infrastrcuture Reconfigurations and Urban Chnage in the North and South. Abingdon: Routledge. 2016. p. 204-226	View
Webb J. Socio-technical innovation in heat and cooling networks. In Hodson M, Marvin S, editors, Retrofitting Cities. Routledge. 2015. Chapter 4	View
Webb J. Socio-Technical Innovation in Heat Networks: Challenges of Financing New Systems in UK Cities. In Hodson M, Marvin S, editors, Retrofitting Cities: Priorities, Governance and Experimentation. New York: Earthscan. 2015. p. 52-69	View
Hawkey D, Webb J, Lovell H, McCrone D, Tingey M, Winskel M. Sustainable Urban Energy Policy: Heat and the City. 1 ed. Abingdon: Routledge, 2015. 262 p. (Routledge Studies in Energy Policy). doi: 10.4324/9781315739533	View
Webb J. Improvising Innovation in UK Urban District Heating: the Convergence of Social and Environmental Agendas in Aberdeen. Energy Policy. 2015 Mar;78:265-272. Epub 2014 Dec 12. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.12.003	View
van der Horst D, Staddon S, Webb J. Smart energy, and society? Technology Analysis and Strategic Management. 2014 Nov 26;26(10):1111-1117. doi: 10.1080/09537325.2014.990314	View
Hawkey D, Webb J. District energy development in liberalised markets: situating UK heat network development in comparison with Dutch and Norwegian case studies. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management. 2014 Nov;26(10):1228-1241. Epub 2014 Oct 22. doi: 10.1080/09537325.2014.971001	View
Bale C, Bush R, Hawkey D, Webb J. Valuation of passive provision for heat network investments. In Brown A, Robertson M, editors, Economic evaluation of systems of infrastructure provision: concepts, approaches, methods - iBUILD/Leeds Report. Leeds: iBUILD. 2014. p. 64-74	View
Webb J. Evaluating urban energy systems in the UK – the implications for financing heat networks. Science & Technology Studies. 2014 Jan 1;27(3):47-67. doi: 10.23987/sts.55314	View
Hawkey D, Tingey M, Webb J. Local Engagement in UK Energy Systems: A Pilot Study of Current Activities and Future Impact. Loughborough: Energy Technologies Institute, 2014. 22 p.	View
Lovell H, Webb J, Hawkey D, Tingey M, Scott-Mearns N. The changing narratives of district heating in the UK: a case study of the city of Edinburgh. 2014. Paper presented at RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2014, London, United Kingdom.	View
Pullinger M, Lovell H, Webb J. Influencing household energy practices: a critical review of UK smart metering standards and commercial feedback devices. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management. 2014;1-19. doi: 10.1080/09537325.2014.977245	View
Hawkey D, Webb J, Winskel M. Organisation and Governance of Urban Energy Systems: District Heating and Cooling in the UK. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2013 Jul;50:22-31. Epub 2013 Feb 23. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.11.018	View
Lovell H, Hawkey D, Webb J. Sociotechnical transitions, innovation and the locality. 2013. Paper presented at Constructing and contesting spaces for low carbon energy innovation, Eindhoven, Netherlands.	View
Webb J, Hawkey D. Governing Socio-Technical Innovation: District Heating in the UK. 2012 Mar.	View
Webb J. Climate Change and Society: The Chimera of Behaviour Change Technologies. Sociology. 2012 Feb;46(1):109-125. doi: 10.1177/0038038511419196	View
Goddard NH, Moore JD, Sutton CA, Lovell H, Webb J. Machine learning and multimedia content generation for energy demand reduction. In Sustainable Internet and ICT for Sustainability (SustainIT), 2012. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 2012. p. 1-5	View
Webb J. Making Climate Change Governable: The Case of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning. Science and Public Policy. 2011 May;38(4):279-292. doi: 10.3152/030234211X12924093660471	View
Webb J. Society Matters: Changing Environmental Attitudes and Behaviour in Scotland. Scottish Affairs. 2010 Jul;71:30-62.	View
Webb J. Gender and the post-industrial shift. In Crompton R, Lyonette C, Scott J, editors, Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century: New barriers and continuing constraints. Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar Publishing. 2010. p. 85-108	View
Webb J. Gender and Occupation in Market Economies: Change and Restructuring Since the 1980s. Social Politics. 2009;16(1):82-110. doi: 10.1093/sp/jxp003	View
Breitenbach E, (ed.), Brown A, (ed.), Mackay F, (ed.), Webb J, (ed.). The Changing Politics of Gender Equality in Britain. 1 ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2001. 240 p.	View
Breitenbach E, Brown A, Mackay F, Webb J. Introduction: The changing politics of gender equality. In Breitenbach E, Brown A, Mackay F, Webb J, editors, The Changing Politics of Gender Equality. 1 ed. Palgrave Macmillan. 2001. p. 1-19 doi: 10.1057/9780230522572	View
Mackay F, Breitenbach E, Brown A, Webb J. Introduction: The Changing Politics of Gender Equality. In Breitenbach E, Brown A, Mackay F, editors, The Changing Politics of Gender Equality. Palgrave Macmillan. 2001. p. 1-19	View

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Professor Janette Webb MBE FRSE FEI

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