Negotiating time and energy: How work patterns and social class shape energy flexibility in Norway

Calls to broaden the scope of energy flexibility have highlighted the need to include sociotemporal rhythms, such as working schedules, to gain a deeper understanding of the temporality of flexibility. Responding to this call, this article studied the energy flexibility practices of 37 interviewees from Oslo, Norway, from different social class backgrounds. The study focused on the occupations and working arrangements (such as hybrid work, shiftwork, and normal working days) of the interviewees, and the ways in which working schedules impact energy flexibility. Through thematic analysis, the article examined three themes—energy flexibility practices and working schedules, technology, and future projectivity—emanating from the interviewees' narratives. The article found that working hours affect the timing, duration, recurrence, and sequencing of energy practices such as heating, cooking and laundry. Furthermore, the experiences of temporally allocating energy practices varied across social classes—the working-class found it more challenging to perform energy flexibility practices due to limited access to automated systems and less flexible work routines, which increased the stress experienced when managing energy use.