-----Original Message-----
From: On Behalf Of Jonathan Rutherford


Dear colleagues,
 
Please find attached details of a postdoctoral opportunity at the Université
Paris Est in the area of energy consumption and urban planning. Please
forward to anybody who might be interested. Apologies for cross-postings.
 
Best wishes,
 
Jonathan Rutherford
 
 
Jonathan Rutherford
Chargé de recherche / Researcher
LATTS (Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Sociétés)
Ecole des Ponts ParisTech
6-8 avenue Blaise Pascal
F-77455 Marne-la-Vallée
France
Tel: +33 (0)1.64.15.38.30
Fax: +33 (0)1.64.61.60.71
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://latts.cnrs.fr/

Urban Futures Centre for Excellence
Call for applicants for a postdoctoral fellowship, 
dedicated to a research into how energy efficiency is factored into planning

1-	Presentation of the project 
Alongside the metropolisation process, an increase in the speed of transport
– mainly via road networks and private cars – allowed low-income households
to be housed decently in the decades following the Second World War (and
based on their desired type of habitat, where standalone housing often
remains the reference) on the periphery of agglomerations whilst keeping
transport times more or less constant. 
The emergence of new towns in the 1960s and 1970s was driven by a desire to
align people's place of residence and place of work more coherently on the
periphery of large cities. Such planning, however, allowed for only a
partial polarisation of peri-urban urbanisation which often developed in a
diffuse manner and clearly resulted in longer commutes and very heavy
reliance on cars for such travel.
Today, this urban development model is very clearly being challenged.
Firstly, increases in transport speed are now much more difficult to achieve
at economically acceptable costs. Regardless of whether we interpret it as a
crisis of fossil fuels or in terms of environmental impact, the energy
crisis will inevitably lead to an increase in the cost of energy. 
How can we interpret the consequences of this situation, notably for
households in the suburbs where peri-urban spaces in particular are often
confronted with even greater power costs, both for domestic use and motor
vehicle travel? Is a crisis such as the American “sub-primes” crisis, where
the combined costs of transport and housing often reached 50 to 60% of
households’ income, conceivable in France? Can the measures adopted in the
context of the French government Grenelle Conference with regard to energy
labelling and improving thermal regulations for the construction of housing
shake things up and, if so, how? What would an urban development model
compatible with the challenges of the 21st century look like?
One of the challenges in answering such questions stems from the fact that
little is known about the factors that determine the energy expenditure of
households and their “consumer profiles”, which are mainly based on
location. From INSEE data, we know that domestic expenditure on energy use
is more or less equal to energy expenditure for transport. Beyond this
general observation, what percentage of these expenses is fixed and what
percentage is potentially modifiable? Can we assess the actual impact of
energy savings programmes? How important is the “rebound effect” that
offsets a portion of the gains in efficiency from technological progress, or
the degree to which consumers perceive such changes and challenges?
2. Content of the mission
Initiated around energy efficiency, the project involves monitoring energy
consumption in the field of transport and housing for a two year period (one
year, renewable) on samples of the population that represent different
income levels and standard situations, both in terms of location (dense
areas, suburbs, peri-urban areas) and housing type (old buildings, renovated
buildings or those undergoing renovation, low-energy houses).
The field will be the new town of Marne-la-Vallée which has the advantage of
being comprised of diverse zones ranging from traditional banlieues at the
edge of Paris’ dense outer suburbs to peri-urban and low density “rurban”
areas. Further, the Marne-la-Vallée public authority – which is a partner to
the project alongside the Seine and Marne General Council – has created a
“housing observatory” that provides access to essential data on the
socio-economic makeup of the population.
Based on an analytical framework that will have to be drawn up, the
observation work conducted will aim to identify energy consumption profiles,
what shapes them and the factors that will influence them in the coming
years.
3. Candidate profile
The candidate must have a doctoral degree in the social sciences
(anthropology, sociology, socio-economics, geography or planning) and be
trained in processing quantitative and qualitative survey data. Experience
working on issues related to consumer behaviour would be an advantage. Good
knowledge of English is essential.
The preferred candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team within Labex
Urban Futures which includes specialists from the four fields of planning,
architecture, transport and the environment. The person will be hosted by
one of the five Labex research units associated with this project (AUSSER,
CIRED, LATTS, LEESU, LVMT) and will contribute actively to the project team
and its activities. 
Duration: one year, renewable starting on 2012 June 1st
Stipend: 24,000 Euros for one year (including health insurance)

Contact people: Agathe Euzen (LATTS) [log in to unmask] ; Katia
Laffrechine (LEESU) [log in to unmask] ; Jean Laterrasse (LVMT)
[log in to unmask]
Candidates must contact one of the researchers whose email is listed above
in order to discuss the project and be sponsored by the researcher. For the
duration of the postdoc, this researcher will be a reference and provide a
point of contact with the multi-disciplinary team.
Required documents (to be send before 2012 march 31st) 
at [log in to unmask]:
Thesis abstract + viva documents (pre-reports and report). If the viva has
not yet taken place, the pre-reports will suffice.
Curriculum vitae
A letter of interest in the form of a two-page overview of how the candidate
understands the subject
A document from the researcher confirming their sponsorship offer.