Illumination as a material service: A comparison between Ancient Rome and early 19th century London

Kai Whiting, Luis Gabriel Carmona, Lina Brand-Correa and Edward Simpson
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Lina Isabel Brand Correa ()

Ecological Economics, 2020, vol. 169, issue C

Abstract: Specific combinations of energy flows, material flows and stocks are responsible for those services that support societal function and development. In this paper, we develop the concept and accounting method for material services, which we define as “those functions that materials contribute to personal or societal activity with the purpose of obtaining or facilitating desired end goals or states, regardless of whether or not a material flow or stock is supplied by the market”. In this respect, material services are an intermediate step that incorporates stock to bridge the gap between resource consumption, accumulation and aspects of wellbeing. We provide a material service case study, which identifies the level of lighting experienced by urban Ancient Romans relative to that enjoyed by inhabitants of 1820s London (the Georgians). Our results show that the average Roman experienced 41,102lm-hour/year, which is more lighting than the Georgian value per capita (at 35,698lm-hour/year). In terms of fuel consumption, Georgians were four times more efficient than their Roman counterparts, but there was a trade-off between materials and energy, given that stock efficiency was 53 times lower than that of the Romans. This trend of improving fuel efficiency at the expense of materials appears to have continued into the 21st century, which holds important implications for sustainable development. Further research needs to be undertaken to ascertain whether this holds true for other material services such as heating, transport and shelter.

Keywords: MFA; Roman lighting; Georgian lighting; Energy services; Stock efficiency; Material efficiency; Sustainable materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:169:y:2020:i:c:s0921800919303283

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.106502

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