ABSTRACT

Contemporary environmental innovations in energy, water and waste water services can be seen as processes of differentiation in resources, providers, technologies and consumer roles. The chapter aims to answer the question of how environmental innovation in urban networks can be understood if we take it from a consumers' perspective. It draws on studies in three urban networks: water supply; waste water management and electricity supply in the Netherlands. As for water supply, a research project was executed on consumer market opportunities for water supply companies, based on an inventory of recent innovations in the sector, focus group discussions and a survey among 3452 water consumers. Innovation in sanitation was studied in diverse projects over the last decade all with a focus on consumer perspectives on innovation. Finally, for electricity a literature study supported with expert and consumer interviews was executed on smart grids, smart meters and smart behaviour.