Photo by Mo's Portraits, Golden, Colorado
Dr. Barbara C. Farhar
Sustainable Energy Sociologist
For more than 25 years, Dr. Farhar has been a pioneer in the area of renewable and sustainable energy policy development, directing research on the interaction between technology and society and diffusion of innovations. As a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), she gained national recognition for her work on the human dimensions of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Today, she is an internationally recognized expert on the use and adoption of new energy technologies.
As interest in alternative energy expands worldwide research is helping builders, public utilities, and consumers make smart energy choices. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses, she empowers informed individual choice and helps communities develop smart and sustainable energy policies and practices.
As principal investigator on a multiyear comparative case study of a new development of high performance homes (built to save 30 to 50 percent of their energy use over conventionally built homes) Farhar found that owners became increasingly satisfied with their energy-efficient products as in-home displays enabled them to track their (decreased) energy consumption and related utility savings. The findings from this study are helping to reshape the conventional wisdom about consumer interest in and market values of homes with energy-saving features.
Dr. Farhar is a research associate at CU's Institute of Behavioral Science and at CU Law. She has produced more than 240 publications and papers on the relevance of behavioral analysis to energy policy, strategic planning for federal research, public opinion about energy and environmental policy, energy efficiency R&D planning, and technology transfer. She has been published in Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, Public Opinion Quarterly, and Science. She is on the board of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society.
Select Publications:
*Farhar, Barbara C. "Advancing a Market for Zero-Energy Homes." 2008. Solar Today. 22:1,Jan. Feb. pp. 24-29.
Full report | Solar Today Article (pdf 8Mb)
Dilling, Lisa and Barbara Farhar. 2007. "Making it Easy: Institutionalizing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy into Everyday Consumer Practice." In Creating a Climate for Change, Communicating Climate Change and Facilitating Social Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 359-382. (link).
Farhar, Barbara C. and Colleen Fitzpatrick. 1989. Effects of Feedback on Residential Electricity Consumption: A Literature Review. Golden, CO: Solar Energy Research Institute.
* 2008 Recipient of APEX Award for Publication Excellence
10 Tips to Increase
Your Energy Efficiency
- Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL's) and save 60-75% on your electricity usage.
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Cut down on waste and phantom loads:
- Use switchable power plugs on TV's, computer monitors, and other appliances that are "on" even when they are off.
- Turn up your air conditioning a few degrees; install an evaporative cooler or whole house fan.
- Unplug the old garage refrigerator that you only need "sometimes".
- Hang dry your clothes, especially if you have an electric dryer.
- Purchase Energy Star appliances.
- Install insulated windows to reduce heating and cooling needs.
- Get an audit to discover your lifestyle carbon footprint and your next best steps for saving energy and money.
- Get an Energy Audit to evaluate how well your home is insulated and sealed, and how well your heating and cooling systems are operating.
- Purchase Renewable Energy Credits or Wind Power from your utility.
- Install solar electric or hot water (thermal) and generate your own energy at home!
Events
World Renewable Energy Congress-X
Glasgow, Scotland 19-25 July 2008
Barbara Farhar, Ph.D. chaired the track on “Energy and Gender-Equitable Development” Other members of the technical committee include Gail Karlsson (U.S.), Dominique Lallement (U.S.), Priyadarshini Karve (India), Dr. Wendy Annecke (South Africa), Dr. May Sengendo (Uganda)
Dr. May Sengendo, Makerere University, Uganda, received the Solar Pioneers Award at the 2008 World Renewable Energy Congress. Follow this link for details on the award.
Engaging Women in Energy Enterprises
A Workshop on Energy and Gender-Equitable Development
Organized by the Technical Committee on Energy and Gender-Equitable Development, World Renewable Energy Congress-X, Barbara Farhar, Ph.D. (USA), Chair
The workshop focused on understanding current issues and impacts of sustainable energy on poverty in the developing world and using that knowledge to accelerate our transition to a future with greater energy justice. Dominique Lallement (France-USA) will give the keynote presentation. Workshop panelists include Liz Bates (U.K.), Priyadarshini Karve (India), Jyotirmay Mathur (India), Wendy Annecke (So. Africa), Gail Karlsson (USA), Sabina Anokye Mensah (Ghana), May Sengendo (Uganda), Gomathi Nair (India), David Renne (USA), Hunter Lovins (USA), and Lakshman Guruswamy (USA). In addition to networking opportunities, Workshop participants will gain understanding of important issues in (a) gender, energy and poverty reduction, (b) equitable distribution initiatives in various parts of the world, and (c) the role of sustainable energy in reaching the Millennium Development Goals. Recommendations will be developed for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17 session in May 2009). Lunch and refreshments will be provided. This workshop is open to WREC-X registrants only.
We had a wonderful meeting. Click here for photos!
On the Path to Zero-Energy Homes
ZEH Continuum (pdf, 468k)
In the News
Denver Post Business Interview
Recently Published
“Advancing a Market for Zero-Energy Homes.” 2008. Solar Today, 22:1, Jan./Feb., pp. 24-29. pdf (8Mb)
Barbara Farhar and Timothy Coburn, “A New Market Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes, A Comparative Case Study,” Environment/Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 50: 18-32. Jan./Feb. 2008.
A New Market Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes: The Comparative San Diego Case Study
B. C. Farhar and T. C. Coburn, December 2006
Executive Summary (pdf, 105K)
Vol 1 (pdf, 5Mb)
Vol 2 (Appendixes) (pdf, 15.6Mb)
Abstract
We studied the first development of 306 high-performance homes by a production builder in the United States from 2001-2006 using a diffusion-of-innovations perspective. These homes were highly energy-efficient and came with solar water heaters standard. One- third came with 1.2 PV systems standard and buyers could opt for 1.2 or 2.4 PV systems in the remaining PV-eligible homes. The study focused on the builder experience, market response to high-performance homes, increases in home values over time, and the consumption and cost of electricity and gas in the high-performance and adjacent comparison homes. The comparison community of 103 homes was built by a different builder, but was of similar vintage, size, and price. Although built to title 24 standards then in effect, the comparison homes were offered with no special energy or solar features standard. The study addresses the home sales prices, resale prices, the uptake of optional PV systems, the demographics and other characteristics of the home buyers, the role of energy in home purchase decisions, satisfaction, policy preferences, and utility consumption and costs in these homes based on data provided by SDG&E. A new way of thinking about offering new ZEHs is discussed.
Recognition
Dr. Farhar received the Solar Pioneer Award at the World Renewable Energy Congress-IX in Florence, Italy, on August 23, 2006 for her work on increasing the understanding of the human dimensions of energy efficiency and renewable energy, including gender and energy and public opinion about energy.
The West Chamber named her an Outstanding Woman of Jefferson County on November 17, 2006 for her passion for life and her accomplishments in social scientific research and her international work.
She chairs the Technical Committee on Gender-Equitable Development and is a member of the Policies Committee for the World Renewable Energy Congress-X, Glasgow, Scotland, August 2008.
Updated: Wednesday, 27-Aug-2008 21:22:37 PDT