The Dynamics of Drying Practice in Barranquilla, Colombia: A Social Practice Theory approach

Household energy consumption accounts for the largest proportion for the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions. These gases are the main contributors to global warming. World leaders have set a goal to limit warming to a maximum of 2 ° C. This has been identified as the safe limit to ensure stability of life on the planet. One of the dilemmas on energy consumption relates to the 1.3 billion people who have no access to energy in their households. One of the sustainable development goals from the UN is to cover the access to “renewable energy for all”. But, to do so, renewable energies have a long road ahead with many barriers. At the current rates of consumption we are already experiencing changes in the climate. To be able to minimize the emissions of these gases, there should be measures to encourage sustainable practices. Colombia, although contributing only 0.35% of the global CO2 emissions, is a country with stable economic growth, which is increasing the amount of people in the middle income strata. This makes Colombia a country that will continue increasing its production, and therefore its greenhouse gas emissions. This thesis contributes in the understanding of how everyday practices affect consumption of energy, and therefore greenhouse gas emissions. To do so, it analyses the drying practice in the city of Barranquilla, within a Social Practice Theory approach. The theory of practice is a type of theory of culture. It explains actions in everyday life in terms of the dynamic of its elements: embodied knowledge and competences; the embedded knowledge of the material world; and the symbolic structures of social meanings. Social practice theory is able to analyze behaviors, not from an individual perspective, but by analyzing the practice itself. It considers the individual just a carrier of the practice. This thesis explains how a sustainable drying practice, hanging clothes to dry, is being replaced by an appliance that emits greenhouse gases: the tumble dryer. The research was done with a qualitative method, where 21 interviews were conducted in order to gain an understanding of drying practice in Barranquilla. The study examined different socioeconomic strata of the city.